So this is a couple of weeks later than usual. Sorry about that. I could blame life, or work, or other Liverpool things I've been working on – all true – but the fact is that I haven't been in a hurry to relive last season. I'm sure you understand.
You can find previous Top 10 videos (at least the ones which haven't been taken down) by scrolling through here (otherwise known as the "videos" tag on this blog).
10) Gerrard 1-6 Stoke: As if we could leave Gerrard's last goal for Liverpool off, the lone bright spot during that damnable day. Sentimentality is easier when there aren't exactly ten superlative goals, but Gerrard still deserves every single bit of sentimentality.
9) Rossiter 1-0 Boro: Okay, just a little bit more sentimentality. We began with the old, we continue with the new. A 17-year-old Scouser, the most recent to be stuck with the "Next Gerrard" label, on his debut, less than 10 minutes into the match. And because this season was officially the worst, that would be Rossiter's only first-team appearance.
8) Lallana 1-0 WBA: Coutinho starting the move, Lambert also involved, quick feet from Lallana, lovely interplay with Henderson, a back-heeled assist, a weak-foot finish. Pretty much the ideal goal given Liverpool's summer transfers. Unsurprisingly, we didn't see its like very often.
7) Gerrard 1-1 Basel: "Over to you captain. Done it plenty of times before. Your club needs you again… OHHHHH GERRARD'S DONE IT, MAGNIFICENT FREE KICK. And Liverpool have a lifeline. Is history going to repeat itself again, as Gerrard provides something very, very special?"
No. No it would not.
6) Sterling 1-0 Southampton: This is on here because of Jordan Henderson. That's an amazing assist, and it's with his left foot. Liverpool's first goal of the season, 23 minutes into the season, seemed to bode well for the season. Ha. Ha ha ha.
5) Moreno 3-0 Spurs: Let's forget the defensive calamities. Let's just remember this, in just Moreno's second match. This was fun. This was when we thought Liverpool's full-back positions and Liverpool's defense might well be settled and might well be fixed. Oh how little we knew.
4) Coutinho 2-1 Bolton: And now begins The Coutinho Show.
3) Henderson 1-0 City: Well, okay, a brief interlude in The Coutinho Show because holy wow Jordan Henderson.
2) Coutinho 2-1 City: I went back and forth over whether this or Henderson's in the same match should be second. Similarly unstoppable, from almost the same area of the pitch. Coutinho's got slightly more precedent for wonder goals, but Henderson's started with Kompany's mistake and this won the match. So this edges it.
1) Coutinho 1-0 Southampton: But there's no debate over this one. Good lord. Pick that one out.
Honorable Mention: (Mostly for the assists)
• Sterling 1-0 Burnley
• Lallana 3-1 Swansea
• Sterling 1-1 Chelsea (League Cup)
• Borini 1-0 Villa
• Henderson 3-1 Leicester
Showing posts with label Videos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Videos. Show all posts
11 June 2015
20 May 2014
Liverpool Top 10 Goals 2013-14
Sorry that this took longer than in seasons past (here are 2012-13, 2011-12, 2010-11 and 2008-09 if you're curious; the rest have been pulled down by various hosting services). It was not easy to make this list this season. Picking 10 from 110 can be a bit of a chore. A fun chore, though.
Unsurprisingly, it's the Suarez and Sturridge show: five from Suarez, three from Sturridge, and one each from Coutinho and Flanagan.
10) Coutinho 3-0 Tottenham (h) : This is why Brendan Rodgers likes his teams to play out from the back. Okay, there's nothing on, so go backward. Draw Tottenham out of position with intelligent short passes, encouraging the opposition to fruitlessly chase the ball. One clever turn upfield – from Flanagan, no less – and there are miles and miles of space to run into, capped off with an actual, honest-to-goodness shot-on-target from outside the box by Coutinho.
9) Suarez 2-1 Everton (a): I wasn't gonna include any direct free kicks this season. Suarez has scored eight of them in the last two seasons, after all, while Gerrard also notched two this season. But this one was too fun, the bend around the wall and the placement into the one place he'd actually score too perfect. And that it happened against Everton, at Everton no less, is a fairly big bonus.
8) Suarez 3-0 Cardiff (h): Passing across the back to pull Cardiff out of shape? Yep. Suarez's non-stop work rate setting the whole thing in motion? Yep. A back-heeled assist from Henderson? Yep. A physics-defying curler into the only space where the keeper couldn't stop the shot? Yep yep yep. Suarez continues to make the difficult look incredibly simple. Just another day at the office. This spot was a toss-up between this and his first in the same match, an ostentatious volley again from a Henderson assist. It was a hell of a way to mark signing his new contract.
7) Sturridge 4-0 Arsenal (h): 75% holy shit what a pass from Coutinho, 15% Sturridge's perfectly-timed run between the center-backs and subsequent finish, 10% "hahahaha Liverpool are 4-0 up on Arsenal within 20 minutes what is going on?"
6) Flanagan 3-0 Tottenham (a): This was probably my favorite goal of the season. This compilation was almost just this goal replayed 10 times over. It remains wonderful and hilarious and wonderlarious. Also,
5) Suarez 2-0 West Brom (h): This was the best Liverpool headed goal since Luis Garcia against Anderlecht. He's outside the box! There's no power on the cross! He's outside the box! Aly Cissokho assist! I absolutely adore difficult headed goals and really, really wanted to put this higher on the list, but the next four goals wouldn't let me.
4) Sturridge 3-0 Everton (h): A straight ball over the top following a quick free kick, a no-look chip from 20 yards out. That is so much harder than Sturridge makes it look. That he was able to make such clean contact on a ball bouncing over his shoulder is amazing enough, let alone placing it as perfectly as he did, over an onrushing Tim Howard. But, as the next goal demonstrates, it certainly was not a fluke.
3) Sturridge 4-1 West Brom (h): Because Sturridge's goal against Everton was his second unbelievable chip of the season. This was the first. I struggled to decide which was more impressive – consider them 3a and 3b – but went with this one because he was under more pressure from an opposition defender and has much much much less space to find the back of the net, with Myhill much closer to his goal line. And yet Sturridge still found said back of the net, with typical aplomb.
2) Suarez 1-0 Norwich (h): Yeah, this seemed to be everyone else's #1. And it's really, really, really good. Deserving of being #1. But we've also seen him try similar and miss horribly. No matter how undeniably, unbelievably talented Suarez is, there's an awful lot of luck involved. If it's against anyone other than Norwich, it's probably 75% less likely to go in. His next goal, though.
1) Suarez 3-0 Norwich (h): Holy wow. The ability to chest control a difficult pass. The ball-on-a-string embarrassment of Leroy Fer. The guile to wait a second longer than everyone expected before taking the shot, fooling the defenders and keeper into giving him the space he needed to strike. This was special. Even for Luis Suarez.
Honorable Mention:
Sterling 1-0 City (h)
Suarez 1-0 Cardiff (h)
Suarez 4-0 Tottenham (a)
Sturridge 1-0 Swansea [Sterling assist] (h)
Sturridge 1-1 Fulham [Gerrard assist] (a)
Skrtel 2-0 Arsenal (h)
Suarez 4-2 Cardiff (a)
Coutinho 1-0 City (a)
Suarez 3-0 Fulham (h)
Sturridge 1-0 West Brom (a)
Unsurprisingly, it's the Suarez and Sturridge show: five from Suarez, three from Sturridge, and one each from Coutinho and Flanagan.
10) Coutinho 3-0 Tottenham (h) : This is why Brendan Rodgers likes his teams to play out from the back. Okay, there's nothing on, so go backward. Draw Tottenham out of position with intelligent short passes, encouraging the opposition to fruitlessly chase the ball. One clever turn upfield – from Flanagan, no less – and there are miles and miles of space to run into, capped off with an actual, honest-to-goodness shot-on-target from outside the box by Coutinho.
9) Suarez 2-1 Everton (a): I wasn't gonna include any direct free kicks this season. Suarez has scored eight of them in the last two seasons, after all, while Gerrard also notched two this season. But this one was too fun, the bend around the wall and the placement into the one place he'd actually score too perfect. And that it happened against Everton, at Everton no less, is a fairly big bonus.
8) Suarez 3-0 Cardiff (h): Passing across the back to pull Cardiff out of shape? Yep. Suarez's non-stop work rate setting the whole thing in motion? Yep. A back-heeled assist from Henderson? Yep. A physics-defying curler into the only space where the keeper couldn't stop the shot? Yep yep yep. Suarez continues to make the difficult look incredibly simple. Just another day at the office. This spot was a toss-up between this and his first in the same match, an ostentatious volley again from a Henderson assist. It was a hell of a way to mark signing his new contract.
7) Sturridge 4-0 Arsenal (h): 75% holy shit what a pass from Coutinho, 15% Sturridge's perfectly-timed run between the center-backs and subsequent finish, 10% "hahahaha Liverpool are 4-0 up on Arsenal within 20 minutes what is going on?"
6) Flanagan 3-0 Tottenham (a): This was probably my favorite goal of the season. This compilation was almost just this goal replayed 10 times over. It remains wonderful and hilarious and wonderlarious. Also,
Oh fuck off even Flanagan has scored.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@THFC__Fans) December 15, 20135) Suarez 2-0 West Brom (h): This was the best Liverpool headed goal since Luis Garcia against Anderlecht. He's outside the box! There's no power on the cross! He's outside the box! Aly Cissokho assist! I absolutely adore difficult headed goals and really, really wanted to put this higher on the list, but the next four goals wouldn't let me.
4) Sturridge 3-0 Everton (h): A straight ball over the top following a quick free kick, a no-look chip from 20 yards out. That is so much harder than Sturridge makes it look. That he was able to make such clean contact on a ball bouncing over his shoulder is amazing enough, let alone placing it as perfectly as he did, over an onrushing Tim Howard. But, as the next goal demonstrates, it certainly was not a fluke.
3) Sturridge 4-1 West Brom (h): Because Sturridge's goal against Everton was his second unbelievable chip of the season. This was the first. I struggled to decide which was more impressive – consider them 3a and 3b – but went with this one because he was under more pressure from an opposition defender and has much much much less space to find the back of the net, with Myhill much closer to his goal line. And yet Sturridge still found said back of the net, with typical aplomb.
2) Suarez 1-0 Norwich (h): Yeah, this seemed to be everyone else's #1. And it's really, really, really good. Deserving of being #1. But we've also seen him try similar and miss horribly. No matter how undeniably, unbelievably talented Suarez is, there's an awful lot of luck involved. If it's against anyone other than Norwich, it's probably 75% less likely to go in. His next goal, though.
1) Suarez 3-0 Norwich (h): Holy wow. The ability to chest control a difficult pass. The ball-on-a-string embarrassment of Leroy Fer. The guile to wait a second longer than everyone expected before taking the shot, fooling the defenders and keeper into giving him the space he needed to strike. This was special. Even for Luis Suarez.
Honorable Mention:
Sterling 1-0 City (h)
Suarez 1-0 Cardiff (h)
Suarez 4-0 Tottenham (a)
Sturridge 1-0 Swansea [Sterling assist] (h)
Sturridge 1-1 Fulham [Gerrard assist] (a)
Skrtel 2-0 Arsenal (h)
Suarez 4-2 Cardiff (a)
Coutinho 1-0 City (a)
Suarez 3-0 Fulham (h)
Sturridge 1-0 West Brom (a)
24 May 2013
Top 10 LFC Goals 2012-13
Another yearly tradition, although it's not as if there aren't a plethora of outstanding video editors – which there weren't when I started this tradition. None the less, you can't argue with tradition. And it was a good year for goals, in contrast to, say, 2011-12 or 2010-11.
10) Bale OG 1-2 Spurs: This will never not be funny. It might well be my favorite goal on the list. Pow. Right in the kisser.
9) Sterling 1-0 Sunderland: The next three goals make this list more for the assists than the strikes, not to take anything away from the strikes. But Suarez's assist is even more impressive than Sterling's finish, taken without even looking up, knowing where the defenders are and where Sterling's run is going. But Sterling's strike is worth the price of admission as well, clever enough to wait for the keeper to commit then perfectly lobbed over his head.
8) Sturridge 3-1 Fulham: Similar to the previous goal in both pass and finish, but with each of even higher quality. Coutinho can create through balls with the outside of his foot better than most players can with their instep; watching them will never get old. And Mark Schwarzer made Sturridge's attempt much more difficult than Mignolet did for Sterling. Also a reminder that Daniel Sturridge's right foot is supposedly his weaker foot.
7) Suarez 3-0 Sunderland: Usually, "Hollywood pass" is a disparaging term. Not here. That ball from Gerrard is 1000% Hollywood and 1000% perfect, directly in line for Suarez's run, then well-controlled into the back of the net. And let's give some credit to Downing's run, which wholly removed Cuellar from the play.
6) Şahin 2-1 West Brom: Count the passes. There are 11 of them, including the throw-in, in less than 25 seconds, almost all one- or two-touch except for Suso's mazy dribble. Liverpool went forward, sideways, backward, and forward again to carve West Brom open for the late winner, and it's not as if Albion players stood off, pressing each player in possession. Honestly, I expected a lot more of these goals when Rodgers was named manager.
5) Johnson 3-0 Gomel: Woof. Chest control, one hop, then an unstoppable volley with his weaker foot.
4) Enrique 3-0 Swansea: Liquid football, tearing through Swansea's defense. I'm still not sure how Sturridge, Enrique, Coutinho, and Suarez found space in the compressed left channel. Also, even more surprisingly, Enrique has a right foot! Sometimes.
3) Suarez 2-1 City (h) / Suarez 2-3 Udinese (tied): Suarez scored five direct free kicks this season, which is a mind-boggling total. The three against Wigan and Zenit were slightly fortunate, but these were absolutely unbelievable.
2) Gerrard 2-1 City (a): He's still got it. All of it.
1) Suarez 1-1 Newcastle: Magic.
Incidentally, the kind of goal are one from a corner, two free kicks, two team-wide passing moves, two shots from distance, and four "direct" goals. I guess that not only are Liverpool more potent when direct, they also score "better" goals.
Honorable Mention:
• Johnson 1-0 West Ham
• Sturridge 3-0 Newcastle (Coutinho assist)
• Coutinho 1-0 QPR
• Downing 1-0 Anzhi
• Sturridge 1-1 Fulham
10) Bale OG 1-2 Spurs: This will never not be funny. It might well be my favorite goal on the list. Pow. Right in the kisser.
9) Sterling 1-0 Sunderland: The next three goals make this list more for the assists than the strikes, not to take anything away from the strikes. But Suarez's assist is even more impressive than Sterling's finish, taken without even looking up, knowing where the defenders are and where Sterling's run is going. But Sterling's strike is worth the price of admission as well, clever enough to wait for the keeper to commit then perfectly lobbed over his head.
8) Sturridge 3-1 Fulham: Similar to the previous goal in both pass and finish, but with each of even higher quality. Coutinho can create through balls with the outside of his foot better than most players can with their instep; watching them will never get old. And Mark Schwarzer made Sturridge's attempt much more difficult than Mignolet did for Sterling. Also a reminder that Daniel Sturridge's right foot is supposedly his weaker foot.
7) Suarez 3-0 Sunderland: Usually, "Hollywood pass" is a disparaging term. Not here. That ball from Gerrard is 1000% Hollywood and 1000% perfect, directly in line for Suarez's run, then well-controlled into the back of the net. And let's give some credit to Downing's run, which wholly removed Cuellar from the play.
6) Şahin 2-1 West Brom: Count the passes. There are 11 of them, including the throw-in, in less than 25 seconds, almost all one- or two-touch except for Suso's mazy dribble. Liverpool went forward, sideways, backward, and forward again to carve West Brom open for the late winner, and it's not as if Albion players stood off, pressing each player in possession. Honestly, I expected a lot more of these goals when Rodgers was named manager.
5) Johnson 3-0 Gomel: Woof. Chest control, one hop, then an unstoppable volley with his weaker foot.
4) Enrique 3-0 Swansea: Liquid football, tearing through Swansea's defense. I'm still not sure how Sturridge, Enrique, Coutinho, and Suarez found space in the compressed left channel. Also, even more surprisingly, Enrique has a right foot! Sometimes.
3) Suarez 2-1 City (h) / Suarez 2-3 Udinese (tied): Suarez scored five direct free kicks this season, which is a mind-boggling total. The three against Wigan and Zenit were slightly fortunate, but these were absolutely unbelievable.
2) Gerrard 2-1 City (a): He's still got it. All of it.
1) Suarez 1-1 Newcastle: Magic.
Incidentally, the kind of goal are one from a corner, two free kicks, two team-wide passing moves, two shots from distance, and four "direct" goals. I guess that not only are Liverpool more potent when direct, they also score "better" goals.
Honorable Mention:
• Johnson 1-0 West Ham
• Sturridge 3-0 Newcastle (Coutinho assist)
• Coutinho 1-0 QPR
• Downing 1-0 Anzhi
• Sturridge 1-1 Fulham
14 May 2012
Top 10 Liverpool Goals 2011-12
I figure we'll start the usual season wrap-up stuff with the easiest, most enjoyable post. Multiple infographics and an almost certainly depressing narrative season review to follow.
10) Carroll 1-2 Chelsea (FA)
9) Carroll 3-2 Blackburn
There's a footballer in there somewhere. These two vastly different goals demonstrate that. One, a quick-reaction late winner won in the air. The other, getting Liverpool back into the FA Cup final with clever dance moves and an unstoppable left-footed shot. The next step is Carroll demonstrating those football instincts much more frequently.
8) Suarez 1-0 Stoke (FA)
Suarez and Maxi, all up in your business, culminating with a top of the box musket shot past a forlorn Begovic. There should have been more of this this season.
7) Suarez 2-0 Wolves
Normally, when a keeper gets beat at his near post, the keeper's to blame. Not so much here. Quickly shifting from defense to attack, a well-placed ball over the top by Enrique, an expertly-timed run from Suarez. The Uruguayan seemingly took the ball too wide and delayed too long, allowing both Johnson and Berra time to get back. No matter. He bamboozled both, turning Johnson inside out and upside down before hammering past Hennessey. Also, I thoroughly enjoy how quick the commentator goes from blaming Wolves' offside trap to lauding the quality of the strike.
6) Bellamy 2-2 City (CC)
Not to downplay Kuyt's run around Lescott, Bellamy and Johnson's one-two, or the fleet-footed finish, but this isn't as picturesque, as aesthetically awesome as most of the other goals on this list. But it's importance can't be undervalued. Without this goal, Liverpool does not make the Carling Cup final, does not win its first trophy in six years, and does not even have the small consolation that is the League Cup. That and it's not as if we're spoilt for choice this season.
5) Kuyt 2-1 Cardiff (CC)
Okay, so maybe he didn't mean it. Maybe it was a lucky strike, and Kuyt's more frequent output is his first "effort"; I'm still not sure if that was a cross or shot. But if so, that somehow just makes it a more fitting capstone if this truly is the end of Dirk Kuyt's Liverpool career. By all rights, this should have been the goal that won the cup were Liverpool able to keep it together for all of three minutes. And that would have been the most fitting capstone for a man usually at his best in Liverpool's biggest games.
4) Suarez 2-0 Norwich
Suarez's third against Norwich – which is obviously coming later in the list – overshadowed the quality of this strike. It's cliché, but he could not have hit this better. An inch to the keeper's right, it's just one more off the woodwork. An inch to the keeper's left or an inch higher, it's saved. But it's perfect, p-e-r-f-e-c-t, which didn't happen nearly enough when Suarez took aim this season.
3) Suarez 1-1 Stoke (CC)
Of course, this also happened. Look, he's Luis Suarez. There's no explaining it. He will score unbelievable goals, waltz past or through defenders as if they're intangible, and curl shots into the far corner with an engineering's precision, then shoot wide when one-on-one with the keeper from 10 yards out. Love every inch of it when he does this and practice your deep breathing relaxation exercises when he does the other thing.
2) Coates 1-0 QPR'
I am biased by results. By rights, this should be #1. The technique is jaw-dropping; it's a better scissor kick than Rooney's against City last season, which won the popularity contest that was the best goal in Premier League history. Coates is a new-to-the-Premiership 21-year-old, 6'5" center-back who made just eight starts this season and speaks approximately eight words of English (just like Rooney).
But Liverpool did not win, somehow conceding three in 14 minutes to almost-relegated QPR, through little fault of Coates'. And that means this can't be #1. Sorry, Seb. There's always next year.
1) Suarez 3-0 Norwich
Unerring from fifty-something yards out, the ultimate kiss-both-cheeks capstone for Suarez's first Liverpool hat-trick. Also, in no way is this choice due to it filling me with painful pangs of Xabi Alonso remembrance. Nope. No siree.
Honorable Mention
• Gerrard 1-0 Everton (h)
• Johnson 2-1 Chelsea (a)
• Essien OG 1-0 Chelsea (a)
• Bellamy 2-1 Newcastle (h)
• Downing 5-1 Oldham (h)
10) Carroll 1-2 Chelsea (FA)
9) Carroll 3-2 Blackburn
There's a footballer in there somewhere. These two vastly different goals demonstrate that. One, a quick-reaction late winner won in the air. The other, getting Liverpool back into the FA Cup final with clever dance moves and an unstoppable left-footed shot. The next step is Carroll demonstrating those football instincts much more frequently.
8) Suarez 1-0 Stoke (FA)
Suarez and Maxi, all up in your business, culminating with a top of the box musket shot past a forlorn Begovic. There should have been more of this this season.
7) Suarez 2-0 Wolves
Normally, when a keeper gets beat at his near post, the keeper's to blame. Not so much here. Quickly shifting from defense to attack, a well-placed ball over the top by Enrique, an expertly-timed run from Suarez. The Uruguayan seemingly took the ball too wide and delayed too long, allowing both Johnson and Berra time to get back. No matter. He bamboozled both, turning Johnson inside out and upside down before hammering past Hennessey. Also, I thoroughly enjoy how quick the commentator goes from blaming Wolves' offside trap to lauding the quality of the strike.
6) Bellamy 2-2 City (CC)
Not to downplay Kuyt's run around Lescott, Bellamy and Johnson's one-two, or the fleet-footed finish, but this isn't as picturesque, as aesthetically awesome as most of the other goals on this list. But it's importance can't be undervalued. Without this goal, Liverpool does not make the Carling Cup final, does not win its first trophy in six years, and does not even have the small consolation that is the League Cup. That and it's not as if we're spoilt for choice this season.
5) Kuyt 2-1 Cardiff (CC)
Okay, so maybe he didn't mean it. Maybe it was a lucky strike, and Kuyt's more frequent output is his first "effort"; I'm still not sure if that was a cross or shot. But if so, that somehow just makes it a more fitting capstone if this truly is the end of Dirk Kuyt's Liverpool career. By all rights, this should have been the goal that won the cup were Liverpool able to keep it together for all of three minutes. And that would have been the most fitting capstone for a man usually at his best in Liverpool's biggest games.
4) Suarez 2-0 Norwich
Suarez's third against Norwich – which is obviously coming later in the list – overshadowed the quality of this strike. It's cliché, but he could not have hit this better. An inch to the keeper's right, it's just one more off the woodwork. An inch to the keeper's left or an inch higher, it's saved. But it's perfect, p-e-r-f-e-c-t, which didn't happen nearly enough when Suarez took aim this season.
3) Suarez 1-1 Stoke (CC)
Of course, this also happened. Look, he's Luis Suarez. There's no explaining it. He will score unbelievable goals, waltz past or through defenders as if they're intangible, and curl shots into the far corner with an engineering's precision, then shoot wide when one-on-one with the keeper from 10 yards out. Love every inch of it when he does this and practice your deep breathing relaxation exercises when he does the other thing.
2) Coates 1-0 QPR'
I am biased by results. By rights, this should be #1. The technique is jaw-dropping; it's a better scissor kick than Rooney's against City last season, which won the popularity contest that was the best goal in Premier League history. Coates is a new-to-the-Premiership 21-year-old, 6'5" center-back who made just eight starts this season and speaks approximately eight words of English (just like Rooney).
But Liverpool did not win, somehow conceding three in 14 minutes to almost-relegated QPR, through little fault of Coates'. And that means this can't be #1. Sorry, Seb. There's always next year.
1) Suarez 3-0 Norwich
Unerring from fifty-something yards out, the ultimate kiss-both-cheeks capstone for Suarez's first Liverpool hat-trick. Also, in no way is this choice due to it filling me with painful pangs of Xabi Alonso remembrance. Nope. No siree.
Honorable Mention
• Gerrard 1-0 Everton (h)
• Johnson 2-1 Chelsea (a)
• Essien OG 1-0 Chelsea (a)
• Bellamy 2-1 Newcastle (h)
• Downing 5-1 Oldham (h)
24 May 2011
Top Ten Liverpool Goals 2010-11
The recent never-ending blog carnival can't spoil historic practice. While I'm sure you're sick of overwrought dissection of the season that was (and there will be more), a top 10 video of Liverpool's goals of the season is tradition around this parts. Also, you should go read the Goal of the Season results that Paisley Gates posted this morning.
Just under eight minutes long, hosted on rutube in the hopes it won't get pulled down for the inevitable copyright infringement. As per usual, hit play then pause and let it load for a few minutes. It'll get there.
10) Torres 1-0 Chelsea: Sorry. He shows up on this list twice more, so steel yourself now. Couldn't be avoided. Superlative control and finish, but more credit goes to Kuyt's pixel-perfect pass.
9) Carroll 1-0 City: More than just a strong head indelicately perched atop a massive body. This was a wicked left-foot strike that Riise would have been proud of.
8) Meireles 1-0 Wigan: Your 2010-11 King of Volleys, Raul Meireles. Watched it fall out of the sky until waist-high, then perfectly struck with a roundhouse kick. Good enough for mere mortals, but Meireles has more coming.
7) Torres 1-1 Bolton: I like to think this goal was scored in spite of Hodgson, as Liverpool certainly didn't show this ability very often. A gorgeous, flowing team strike: from Johnson to Ngog to Gerrard to Torres to the back of the net in under seven seconds. Gerrard's insouciant, immaculate chip – so much more difficult than he made it look – is by far my favorite part. Oh when he starts linking up with Suarez regularly...
6) Lucas 3-1 Steaua: He's good for one of these screamers a season. Pity it's not more.
5) Maxi 4-1 Fulham: The Argentinean's best strike during an unstoppable scoring stint. Not only a Louvre-worthy tempest from distance, but a crucial goal to stem Fulham's potential rally.
4) Torres 2-0 Chelsea: Just so you know, this list includes more Torres goals scored against his current club than he's scored for his current club.
3) Suarez 2-0 Sunderland: With Suarez, the extraordinary becomes boringly ordinary and the impossible happens at least once every 90 minutes or so. He's an irrepressible magician with an overflowing bag of tricks. Sane footballers simply don't score from that position.
2)Suarez Kuyt 1-0 United: If Kuyt doesn't tap in from two inches, this goes down as the best own goal ever thanks to Evra's deflection. Don't mind the name on the score sheet; this is Suarez's goal. Also, Rafael still comes to Anfield after he's done training in the hopes that, one day, he'll find the ankles that Suarez broke.
1) Meireles 2-0 Wolves: Unrepeatable.
For the first time since I started doing this four years ago, Gerrard's not featured. His free kick through United's wall and the delightfully nonchalant chipped finish for a hat-trick against Napoli were considered, but are probably behind other strikes which didn't make this list. Compare that to one entry last year, four in 2008-09, and three in 2007-08.
Also, six of the 10 happened under Dalglish, with 4 during Hodgson's reign of terror: Torres' three entries and Lucas' ballistic missile. I'm surprised there weren't more from the last five months, actually. Probability and whatnot. Evidently, more goals doesn't necessarily mean more sexier goals.
Honorable Mention:
• Torres 1-0 Wigan (Gerrard assist)
• Maxi 1-0 Bolton (Torres assist)
• Johnson 1-2 West Ham (Suarez assist)
• Carroll 3-0 City (Meireles assist)
• Suarez 3-0 Newcastle (Kuyt assist)
It was a bad year for great goals. So this year's honorable mention features my favorite assists which didn't make the top 10.
Just under eight minutes long, hosted on rutube in the hopes it won't get pulled down for the inevitable copyright infringement. As per usual, hit play then pause and let it load for a few minutes. It'll get there.
10) Torres 1-0 Chelsea: Sorry. He shows up on this list twice more, so steel yourself now. Couldn't be avoided. Superlative control and finish, but more credit goes to Kuyt's pixel-perfect pass.
9) Carroll 1-0 City: More than just a strong head indelicately perched atop a massive body. This was a wicked left-foot strike that Riise would have been proud of.
8) Meireles 1-0 Wigan: Your 2010-11 King of Volleys, Raul Meireles. Watched it fall out of the sky until waist-high, then perfectly struck with a roundhouse kick. Good enough for mere mortals, but Meireles has more coming.
7) Torres 1-1 Bolton: I like to think this goal was scored in spite of Hodgson, as Liverpool certainly didn't show this ability very often. A gorgeous, flowing team strike: from Johnson to Ngog to Gerrard to Torres to the back of the net in under seven seconds. Gerrard's insouciant, immaculate chip – so much more difficult than he made it look – is by far my favorite part. Oh when he starts linking up with Suarez regularly...
6) Lucas 3-1 Steaua: He's good for one of these screamers a season. Pity it's not more.
5) Maxi 4-1 Fulham: The Argentinean's best strike during an unstoppable scoring stint. Not only a Louvre-worthy tempest from distance, but a crucial goal to stem Fulham's potential rally.
4) Torres 2-0 Chelsea: Just so you know, this list includes more Torres goals scored against his current club than he's scored for his current club.
3) Suarez 2-0 Sunderland: With Suarez, the extraordinary becomes boringly ordinary and the impossible happens at least once every 90 minutes or so. He's an irrepressible magician with an overflowing bag of tricks. Sane footballers simply don't score from that position.
2)
1) Meireles 2-0 Wolves: Unrepeatable.
For the first time since I started doing this four years ago, Gerrard's not featured. His free kick through United's wall and the delightfully nonchalant chipped finish for a hat-trick against Napoli were considered, but are probably behind other strikes which didn't make this list. Compare that to one entry last year, four in 2008-09, and three in 2007-08.
Also, six of the 10 happened under Dalglish, with 4 during Hodgson's reign of terror: Torres' three entries and Lucas' ballistic missile. I'm surprised there weren't more from the last five months, actually. Probability and whatnot. Evidently, more goals doesn't necessarily mean more sexier goals.
Honorable Mention:
• Torres 1-0 Wigan (Gerrard assist)
• Maxi 1-0 Bolton (Torres assist)
• Johnson 1-2 West Ham (Suarez assist)
• Carroll 3-0 City (Meireles assist)
• Suarez 3-0 Newcastle (Kuyt assist)
It was a bad year for great goals. So this year's honorable mention features my favorite assists which didn't make the top 10.
25 May 2010
On Fabio Aurelio
It's a sad day, despite the fact it's the five-year anniversary of Istanbul. And it's a sad day despite knowing the inevitability of today's news. But Fabio Aurelio's exit from Liverpool was always going to be a sad day.
If Aurelio wasn't made of glass, he could have been one of Liverpool's best ever left backs. And that's not hyperbole. He could, and arguably still should, have been a regular starter for the Brazilian national team. When fit, Fabio could do it all in defense and attack. He was consistently Liverpool's best crosser of the ball, and arguably the best on free kicks (sorry Stevie) during his time here. He is a perfectly modern fullback, and one hell of a footballer.
But if Aurelio wasn't made of glass, he probably never would have joined Liverpool. He was a free transfer, on moderate wages, because of his injury history. Benitez took a gamble on the player having worked with him before, and the gamble worked whenever nature allowed it. Pity nature didn't allow it more often.
In a perfect world, Aurelio would have been healthy enough for this year and the next, allowing Insua to progress at a more reasonable pace instead of the baptism by fire suffered this season. I truly wish he had taken the pay-as-you-play deal offered by Liverpool, for both selfish and footballing reasons. But that's he's looking for more security, whether on the continent or back in Brazil, is completely understandable.
So, below, is a video of Aurelio's four (fantastic) Liverpool goals, as well as my favorite assist, which I reckon perfectly encapsulates his talents.
Best of luck, Fabio. You'll never walk alone.
If Aurelio wasn't made of glass, he could have been one of Liverpool's best ever left backs. And that's not hyperbole. He could, and arguably still should, have been a regular starter for the Brazilian national team. When fit, Fabio could do it all in defense and attack. He was consistently Liverpool's best crosser of the ball, and arguably the best on free kicks (sorry Stevie) during his time here. He is a perfectly modern fullback, and one hell of a footballer.
But if Aurelio wasn't made of glass, he probably never would have joined Liverpool. He was a free transfer, on moderate wages, because of his injury history. Benitez took a gamble on the player having worked with him before, and the gamble worked whenever nature allowed it. Pity nature didn't allow it more often.
In a perfect world, Aurelio would have been healthy enough for this year and the next, allowing Insua to progress at a more reasonable pace instead of the baptism by fire suffered this season. I truly wish he had taken the pay-as-you-play deal offered by Liverpool, for both selfish and footballing reasons. But that's he's looking for more security, whether on the continent or back in Brazil, is completely understandable.
So, below, is a video of Aurelio's four (fantastic) Liverpool goals, as well as my favorite assist, which I reckon perfectly encapsulates his talents.
Best of luck, Fabio. You'll never walk alone.
13 May 2010
Top 10 Liverpool Goals 2009-10
Like last year, it's a fairly big video; just under eight minutes. I recommend hitting play, pausing, and letting it load for a minute or two before trying to watch in full.
10) Masch 1-1 Unirea: He may not score a lot of them, but he certainly smacked that one. With two goals in about a buck-fifty's worth of games, you might snipe that even a broken clock's right twice a day. My response is, well yeah, but it was really right this time.
9) Babel 2-1 Unirea: Babel's control there, pulling a ball that high down to easily stab home from six yards, all in one movement, is flat-out awesome. Such flashes of potential...
8) Torres 2-2 Bolton: Liverpool regroup after a cleared corner, Gerrard lofts it into the box, Kuyt deftly chests on the turn to Torres, whose touch kills the ball so he can fire over the keeper despite being encircled by defenders. Fantastic.
7) Torres 1-0 West Ham: There's at least one of these a year with Torres in the team. He's one-on-one with some poor schmuck and flat-out bamboozles and flies by them. Getting old now really...
6) Gerrard 3-2 Bolton: A thigh-high volley from 17 yards is an awfully hard trick to get right, but it looks so simple there.
5) Agger 1-0 Benfica: Set play theatrics culminating with a backheel from a center-back. Yes please. You cheeky bastard.
4) Insua 1-1 Arsenal: Not a bad first for the club. Chest down, half volley on the run, couldn't have been better hit.
3) Kuyt 3-0 Stoke: 12 passes in Stoke's half in exactly 30 seconds, seven players involved, and a phenomenal ankle-breaking one-touch turn towards goal from Gerrard to put it on a plate for Kuyt. Pass. And. Move. Pity Liverpool can't penetrate a packed defense like that more often.
2) Aquilani 3-0 Pompey: One of those rare moments this season when I went, "Whoa, this might actually work." Build-up down the flank leads to an impudent backheel from Torres, smart dummy from Gerrard, and Aquilani's first goal for the club. Perfect clever attacking play. Maybe, just maybe, there'll be more of that come August.
1) Torres 1-0 Sunderland: He is magic.
Honorable mention: Benayoun 1-0 Burnley (h), Gerrard 2-0 Burnley (a), Torres 1-0 United (h), Johnson 2-0 Stoke, Maxi 3-0 Burnley (a)
Random notes noticed after the fact:
• Only one of the Top 10 was scored by Gerrard this year, compared to four last year and three the year before. He did, however, provide the assist for four of the 10.
• Only counting domestic opponents, and including my five honorable mentions, Liverpool scored 10 of 12 goals against clubs in the bottom half of the table. United, Arsenal, Benfica, and Unirea are the exceptions. Three against Burnley, two against Stoke, two against Bolton and two against Unirea – not quite a murderer's row. I did not do that on purpose.
• Three of the Top 10 were scored from set plays.
• The Top 10 and Honorable Mentions all came during two six-week stretches: five from mid-August through October and five from late February through April. I'm sure you remember how awful the winter months were. Coincidentally, those stretches were when Torres was fittest. Funny, that.
10) Masch 1-1 Unirea: He may not score a lot of them, but he certainly smacked that one. With two goals in about a buck-fifty's worth of games, you might snipe that even a broken clock's right twice a day. My response is, well yeah, but it was really right this time.
9) Babel 2-1 Unirea: Babel's control there, pulling a ball that high down to easily stab home from six yards, all in one movement, is flat-out awesome. Such flashes of potential...
8) Torres 2-2 Bolton: Liverpool regroup after a cleared corner, Gerrard lofts it into the box, Kuyt deftly chests on the turn to Torres, whose touch kills the ball so he can fire over the keeper despite being encircled by defenders. Fantastic.
7) Torres 1-0 West Ham: There's at least one of these a year with Torres in the team. He's one-on-one with some poor schmuck and flat-out bamboozles and flies by them. Getting old now really...
6) Gerrard 3-2 Bolton: A thigh-high volley from 17 yards is an awfully hard trick to get right, but it looks so simple there.
5) Agger 1-0 Benfica: Set play theatrics culminating with a backheel from a center-back. Yes please. You cheeky bastard.
4) Insua 1-1 Arsenal: Not a bad first for the club. Chest down, half volley on the run, couldn't have been better hit.
3) Kuyt 3-0 Stoke: 12 passes in Stoke's half in exactly 30 seconds, seven players involved, and a phenomenal ankle-breaking one-touch turn towards goal from Gerrard to put it on a plate for Kuyt. Pass. And. Move. Pity Liverpool can't penetrate a packed defense like that more often.
2) Aquilani 3-0 Pompey: One of those rare moments this season when I went, "Whoa, this might actually work." Build-up down the flank leads to an impudent backheel from Torres, smart dummy from Gerrard, and Aquilani's first goal for the club. Perfect clever attacking play. Maybe, just maybe, there'll be more of that come August.
1) Torres 1-0 Sunderland: He is magic.
Honorable mention: Benayoun 1-0 Burnley (h), Gerrard 2-0 Burnley (a), Torres 1-0 United (h), Johnson 2-0 Stoke, Maxi 3-0 Burnley (a)
Random notes noticed after the fact:
• Only one of the Top 10 was scored by Gerrard this year, compared to four last year and three the year before. He did, however, provide the assist for four of the 10.
• Only counting domestic opponents, and including my five honorable mentions, Liverpool scored 10 of 12 goals against clubs in the bottom half of the table. United, Arsenal, Benfica, and Unirea are the exceptions. Three against Burnley, two against Stoke, two against Bolton and two against Unirea – not quite a murderer's row. I did not do that on purpose.
• Three of the Top 10 were scored from set plays.
• The Top 10 and Honorable Mentions all came during two six-week stretches: five from mid-August through October and five from late February through April. I'm sure you remember how awful the winter months were. Coincidentally, those stretches were when Torres was fittest. Funny, that.
29 May 2009
Goals of the Season 08-09
Same format as last year – my 10 favorite Liverpool strikes in one compilation. Well, actually 11. It’s been a good year for great goals. I experimented with adding titles; it doesn’t make for the smoothest transitions, but in my defense, I’m teaching myself iMovie by trial and error.
Youtube hates me this season, so we’re on sapo.pt instead.
10) Gerrard 1-1 Everton (FA Cup):
This shouldn't make the list, because Howard should’ve made the save, but that's just bloody awesome by Torres. Words fail me.
9) Agger 1-0 Crewe:
The first of two for the Dane. Welcome back, Danny Agger.
8) Gerrard 3-0 Real:
This one’s very similar to a goal against Bolton that was my second favorite from 2006/07. And this goal only made 8th this year. Says enough really.
7) Gerrard 2-1 Boro:
Yawn. Just another last second Stevie G winner from the edge of the box. Routine by now really.
6) Kuyt 3-2 Wigan:
Not only a late comeback winner, but also a scissored volley. Only Kuyt could make it look ugly and ungainly, but there lies the beauty.
5) Riera 2-1 PSV and Agger 3-0 Blackburn:
Different players, same goal. Both lefty too.
4) Keane 1-1 Arse:
I debated over whether or not to include Keane, because of the brevity of his stay and because I’m a petty bastard who holds grudges. But this goal was awesome.
3) Aurelio 3-1 United:
Sweet, sweet victory. Mmmmm. And it’s not a bad free kick either.
2) Gerrard 1-1 Marseille:
The commentator is absolutely right: only Gerrard could score this goal and mean it. He has no right to get that power and accuracy when the pass is behind him.
1) Torres 1-0 Blackburn:
See, I can pick a goal of the season that's not scored by Gerrard. More than shades of van Basten – the Dutchman's got a case for plagiarism. Torres’ might even be better because of the takedown. Absolute brilliance. He really can score every type of goal.
For kicks, I made a second video, with four honorable mentions I couldn’t leave out.
Honorable Mention:
• The Nemanja Vidic Defender of the Year Award: Torres 1-1 United
• The Textbook Definition of Counter-Attack Football Award: Keane 3-0 Bolton
• The 86-Game Home Unbeaten Streak Award: Alonso 1-0 Chelsea
• The 4-1 Never Gets Old Award: Dossena 4-1 United
Youtube hates me this season, so we’re on sapo.pt instead.
10) Gerrard 1-1 Everton (FA Cup):
This shouldn't make the list, because Howard should’ve made the save, but that's just bloody awesome by Torres. Words fail me.
9) Agger 1-0 Crewe:
The first of two for the Dane. Welcome back, Danny Agger.
8) Gerrard 3-0 Real:
This one’s very similar to a goal against Bolton that was my second favorite from 2006/07. And this goal only made 8th this year. Says enough really.
7) Gerrard 2-1 Boro:
Yawn. Just another last second Stevie G winner from the edge of the box. Routine by now really.
6) Kuyt 3-2 Wigan:
Not only a late comeback winner, but also a scissored volley. Only Kuyt could make it look ugly and ungainly, but there lies the beauty.
5) Riera 2-1 PSV and Agger 3-0 Blackburn:
Different players, same goal. Both lefty too.
4) Keane 1-1 Arse:
I debated over whether or not to include Keane, because of the brevity of his stay and because I’m a petty bastard who holds grudges. But this goal was awesome.
3) Aurelio 3-1 United:
Sweet, sweet victory. Mmmmm. And it’s not a bad free kick either.
2) Gerrard 1-1 Marseille:
The commentator is absolutely right: only Gerrard could score this goal and mean it. He has no right to get that power and accuracy when the pass is behind him.
1) Torres 1-0 Blackburn:
See, I can pick a goal of the season that's not scored by Gerrard. More than shades of van Basten – the Dutchman's got a case for plagiarism. Torres’ might even be better because of the takedown. Absolute brilliance. He really can score every type of goal.
For kicks, I made a second video, with four honorable mentions I couldn’t leave out.
Honorable Mention:
• The Nemanja Vidic Defender of the Year Award: Torres 1-1 United
• The Textbook Definition of Counter-Attack Football Award: Keane 3-0 Bolton
• The 86-Game Home Unbeaten Streak Award: Alonso 1-0 Chelsea
• The 4-1 Never Gets Old Award: Dossena 4-1 United
29 November 2008
10 years of magic
Today’s the 10th anniversary of Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool debut, as I’m sure you’re aware since the official site’s been touting it for the last two weeks. And rightfully so. The man’s an utter genius at football, one of the absolute best players I’ve had the chance to see in their prime. He’s single-handedly won innumerable games for the club, and has probably already sealed his place in the all-time best Liverpool XI. And as Benitez said today, there’s still room for improvement.
So in celebration, here are 10 of my favorite Gerrard goals.
My video collection is somewhat lacking, so the earliest goals are from Benitez’s first season. Which means we’re without the screamers against Southampton and United, among others. This video has many of the best from those years, except for his first goal for the club.
Chances are I’m still missing a few from those four-plus seasons, but these ten sure are super. No prizes for guessing the top two.
Here’s hoping for another 10 years.
Goals:
• Aston Villa 04.29.06
• Newcastle 11.24.07
• Bolton 01.01.07
• Marseille 09.16.08
• Arsenal 01.09.07
• AC Milan 05.25.05
• Aston Villa 08.11.07
• Boro 04.30.05
• West Ham 05.13.06
• Olympiakos 12.08.04
So in celebration, here are 10 of my favorite Gerrard goals.
My video collection is somewhat lacking, so the earliest goals are from Benitez’s first season. Which means we’re without the screamers against Southampton and United, among others. This video has many of the best from those years, except for his first goal for the club.
Chances are I’m still missing a few from those four-plus seasons, but these ten sure are super. No prizes for guessing the top two.
Here’s hoping for another 10 years.
Goals:
• Aston Villa 04.29.06
• Newcastle 11.24.07
• Bolton 01.01.07
• Marseille 09.16.08
• Arsenal 01.09.07
• AC Milan 05.25.05
• Aston Villa 08.11.07
• Boro 04.30.05
• West Ham 05.13.06
• Olympiakos 12.08.04
14 May 2008
Liverpool goals of the season 07/08
I’m doing this a bit different than in the past, in the hopes that the videos I’ve linked won’t be deleted (as in the past). Plus, not all the goals are still online. So I’ve gone through everything I have and created one big clip of all 10 goals.
Hopefully the YouTube video will stay up, but in addition, if you want to download it, there’s a link at the bottom of the post. The quality’s not the best but there’s only so much I can do with clips of different sizes and compression.
10) Lucas v Havant & Waterlooville – I went back and forth over putting this or El Zhar’s first goal against Cardiff here, but Lucas barely edges it for me. Both goals were classic shots from outside the box, but Lucas’ was arguably more important, as Liverpool had struggled to penetrate Havant’s defense to that point, and I imagine we’ll be seeing a lot more like this from the player.
9) Torres v Chelsea – I almost put his last goal against Spurs in this spot, as they were quite similar and he arguably embarrassed Dawson even more than Ben Haim, but I’m going with the one for two reasons. One, it set the tone for things to come and two, what a pass from Gerrard.
8) Torres v Newcastle – Can’t say much else besides, “Wow, Torres and Gerrard have an incredible partnership.”
7) Aurelio @ Bolton – Another cracker of a first goal. Great control, even better strike.
6) Torres @ Boro – Without this moment of magic, Liverpool assuredly would have lost this game. And it shows the best thing about Torres: he can score every single type of goal. He’s utterly peerless, such a special player.
5) Gerrard @ Newcastle – No matter how often he scores from distance or how many amazing free kicks he hits, they’re all still stunners. Captain Fantastic indeed.
4) Babel v Besiktas – This one’s for Manton (as it’s prompted a debate whether it was better than Henry’s noteworthy back heel), but I’d have included it regardless. The fact that Liverpool put 8 past a comprehensively beaten Besiktas shouldn’t diminish from the goal by any means. It takes a lot of talent to pull off a trick like that, and it was a clever run into space to get into that position.
3) Gerrard @ Villa – Simply stunning free kick, and in the dying minutes of the first match of the season after Villa had equalized on an iffy penalty kick (by Gareth Barry…). Pity it didn’t set the precedent for the season that we’d hoped.
2) Torres @ Marseille – More than a few of Torres’ goals have come when he’s broken the ankles of defenders to beat his man, but this is my favorite simply for the way he embarrassed Julien Rodriguez. Normally a defender only throws him arm in the air like that when he has a case for offside…
1) Gerrard v Besiktas – Again, I am a complete sucker for pass and move team goals, especially ones that are set up by exceptionally clever back heels.
Honorable mention:
El Zhar v Cardiff
Benayoun @ Reading (Carling Cup)
Torres @ Derby
Babel v Derby
Torres’ 2nd v Boro
Download from Mediafire here
Hopefully the YouTube video will stay up, but in addition, if you want to download it, there’s a link at the bottom of the post. The quality’s not the best but there’s only so much I can do with clips of different sizes and compression.
10) Lucas v Havant & Waterlooville – I went back and forth over putting this or El Zhar’s first goal against Cardiff here, but Lucas barely edges it for me. Both goals were classic shots from outside the box, but Lucas’ was arguably more important, as Liverpool had struggled to penetrate Havant’s defense to that point, and I imagine we’ll be seeing a lot more like this from the player.
9) Torres v Chelsea – I almost put his last goal against Spurs in this spot, as they were quite similar and he arguably embarrassed Dawson even more than Ben Haim, but I’m going with the one for two reasons. One, it set the tone for things to come and two, what a pass from Gerrard.
8) Torres v Newcastle – Can’t say much else besides, “Wow, Torres and Gerrard have an incredible partnership.”
7) Aurelio @ Bolton – Another cracker of a first goal. Great control, even better strike.
6) Torres @ Boro – Without this moment of magic, Liverpool assuredly would have lost this game. And it shows the best thing about Torres: he can score every single type of goal. He’s utterly peerless, such a special player.
5) Gerrard @ Newcastle – No matter how often he scores from distance or how many amazing free kicks he hits, they’re all still stunners. Captain Fantastic indeed.
4) Babel v Besiktas – This one’s for Manton (as it’s prompted a debate whether it was better than Henry’s noteworthy back heel), but I’d have included it regardless. The fact that Liverpool put 8 past a comprehensively beaten Besiktas shouldn’t diminish from the goal by any means. It takes a lot of talent to pull off a trick like that, and it was a clever run into space to get into that position.
3) Gerrard @ Villa – Simply stunning free kick, and in the dying minutes of the first match of the season after Villa had equalized on an iffy penalty kick (by Gareth Barry…). Pity it didn’t set the precedent for the season that we’d hoped.
2) Torres @ Marseille – More than a few of Torres’ goals have come when he’s broken the ankles of defenders to beat his man, but this is my favorite simply for the way he embarrassed Julien Rodriguez. Normally a defender only throws him arm in the air like that when he has a case for offside…
1) Gerrard v Besiktas – Again, I am a complete sucker for pass and move team goals, especially ones that are set up by exceptionally clever back heels.
Honorable mention:
El Zhar v Cardiff
Benayoun @ Reading (Carling Cup)
Torres @ Derby
Babel v Derby
Torres’ 2nd v Boro
Download from Mediafire here
16 May 2007
Top 10 Liverpool goals of the season
I had contemplated holding off on this until after Athens, but I just can’t go this long between Liverpool posts. I’m getting sick of saying it, especially since we’re still a week out, but May 23rd cannot get here fast enough. Man, it’s probably going to be a long summer.
10) Carragher v Fulham – Okay, so it’s probably not the tenth best goal of the season, but any chance given to acknowledge Carra as a goalscorer will be seized with both hands. Long may it continue.
9) Riise v Spurs – He’s scored some brilliant ones this season, including those against Chelsea in the Community Shield and PSV in Eindhoven, but this is the best. He’s quite a long way out, you know.
8) Crouch v West Ham – The best “team goal” of the season by far, and not a bad finish either. Count the number of pretty passes; if Liverpool could always play like that, they’d be unbeatable.
7) Riise v Barca – His. Right. Foot. That is all.
6) Pennant v Chelsea – Jermaine’s lone goal so far this season, but nothing if not well taken, and not a bad time to score it either. Special thanks to Pennant’s good friend Ashley Cole for standing five yards off him and practically shouting shoot.
5) Agger v West Ham – What a shot, especially coming from a center back. Not that goals will come to define Agger (thanks for popping up against Chelsea, by the way), but if he keeps chipping in with these, I doubt we'll hear many complaints.
4) Crouch v Gala
Crouch v Bolton – Much like the last run-down of best goals, where I grouped Alonso’s two efforts from midfield because of their similarities, these two goals will be forever linked. They’re absolute carbon copies of one another. I have to give the edge to the goal against Bolton because of the work by Pennant and Kuyt to create the cross though.
3) Alonso v Newcastle – I am a sucker for these goals. It also delights me that I can use the plural form when talking about Alonso scoring from his own half. This one might be better than the one at Luton; he makes a pretty tackle, looks upfield, spots the keeper off his line, and buries it in the net. And I’m still of the belief he would have scored even if Harper hadn’t fallen.
2) Gerrard v Bolton – I hesitate putting Gerrard strikes as the top two goals of the season, especially given the name of the blog. I’m far too sensitive about giving Gerrard too much credit. But this is another stunner of a volley. The technique is impeccable. On the volley, in the air, side-footed, between two sprawling defenders. Jaw dropping.
1) Gerrard v Arsenal (Carling Cup) – Pity this goal came in a losing effort and the worst scoreline given up at Anfield in ages, because this is one hell of a strike.
Honorable mention:
Riise v PSV
Kuyt v West Ham
Bellamy v Charlton
Garcia v Fulham
10) Carragher v Fulham – Okay, so it’s probably not the tenth best goal of the season, but any chance given to acknowledge Carra as a goalscorer will be seized with both hands. Long may it continue.
9) Riise v Spurs – He’s scored some brilliant ones this season, including those against Chelsea in the Community Shield and PSV in Eindhoven, but this is the best. He’s quite a long way out, you know.
8) Crouch v West Ham – The best “team goal” of the season by far, and not a bad finish either. Count the number of pretty passes; if Liverpool could always play like that, they’d be unbeatable.
7) Riise v Barca – His. Right. Foot. That is all.
6) Pennant v Chelsea – Jermaine’s lone goal so far this season, but nothing if not well taken, and not a bad time to score it either. Special thanks to Pennant’s good friend Ashley Cole for standing five yards off him and practically shouting shoot.
5) Agger v West Ham – What a shot, especially coming from a center back. Not that goals will come to define Agger (thanks for popping up against Chelsea, by the way), but if he keeps chipping in with these, I doubt we'll hear many complaints.
4) Crouch v Gala
Crouch v Bolton – Much like the last run-down of best goals, where I grouped Alonso’s two efforts from midfield because of their similarities, these two goals will be forever linked. They’re absolute carbon copies of one another. I have to give the edge to the goal against Bolton because of the work by Pennant and Kuyt to create the cross though.
3) Alonso v Newcastle – I am a sucker for these goals. It also delights me that I can use the plural form when talking about Alonso scoring from his own half. This one might be better than the one at Luton; he makes a pretty tackle, looks upfield, spots the keeper off his line, and buries it in the net. And I’m still of the belief he would have scored even if Harper hadn’t fallen.
2) Gerrard v Bolton – I hesitate putting Gerrard strikes as the top two goals of the season, especially given the name of the blog. I’m far too sensitive about giving Gerrard too much credit. But this is another stunner of a volley. The technique is impeccable. On the volley, in the air, side-footed, between two sprawling defenders. Jaw dropping.
1) Gerrard v Arsenal (Carling Cup) – Pity this goal came in a losing effort and the worst scoreline given up at Anfield in ages, because this is one hell of a strike.
Honorable mention:
Riise v PSV
Kuyt v West Ham
Bellamy v Charlton
Garcia v Fulham
09 October 2006
Top 10 Liverpool Goals Since 2004
Continuing with the Liverpool nostalgia theme, I was thinking yesterday of the best goals of the Benitez era. And after decrying the posting of YouTube videos less than a week ago, I’m going to rely on them here. Enjoy.
10. John Arne Riise v Birmingham 03.21.06
The pick of seven that Liverpool put past Birmingham in the quarter final of the 05/06 FA Cup. Since Benitez’s arrival at Anfield, Riise has become more prolific, with 14 goals since 2004, most of them screamers from outside the box. This goal wins out over other trademark JAR strikes against Chelsea (twice), Tottenham, and Manchester City.
9. Steven Gerrard v Aston Villa 04.29.06
Surprisingly, Stevie’s name appears frequently on this list. This was another game that Gerrard rescued, with two goals in the second half to beat a Villa side that was causing Liverpool more trouble than they should have.
8. Harry Kewell v Tottenham 01.14.06
When he’s been fit, Harry’s put in a couple of nice strikes, and looked last season to be returning to the Kewell of old. This goal against Tottenham was Liverpool’s only goal in a game that looked to be ending 0-0, and edges out Kewell’s superb goal against Everton last season.
7. Neil Mellor v Arsenal 11.28.04
Neil Mellor placed #90 in the “100 Players Who Shook The Kop,” and his piece starts off with Jaime Carragher saying “Oy, Mellor’s on here?” with a smiling surprised look on his face. After banging them in for the reserves, but undergoing numerous operations on his knees, it looked like Mellor was never going to make the first team. But he was instrumental during the Champions League-winning season, where injuries gave him an opportunity. Not only did he score this delightful winner against Arsenal, but he also set up Stevie’s goal against Olympiakos and scored one of his own as a sub in the comeback that saved Liverpool’s Champions League campaign.
6. Steven Gerrard v Middlesbrough 04.30.05
Another Gerrard belter. Similar to the Villa goal in the distance and the swerve on the ball, but the pass leading up to the goal and the touch that Gerrard displays before shooting is just gorgeous.
5. Peter Crouch v Galatasaray 09.27.06
For all the good touches he’s shown, I never thought Crouchy had this goal in him. He’s 6’7”. That’s a bicycle kick. You figure out this goal, I’m awful at physics.
4. Luis Garcia v Juventus 04.05.05
Finnan with a nice touch pass to Le Tallac, who hits it on the volley to Garcia who hits it on the volley into the back of the net from 30 yards curled over about $60,000,000 of goalkeeper. I’m amazed I’m only putting this fourth. This goal put Liverpool up 2-0 over Juve, and ended up being the difference in the aggregate score. Garcia was another essential piece in the Champions League puzzle; however frustrating he can be, he delivers big goals in big games.
3. Xabi Alonso v Newcastle 09.20.06; Xabi Alonso v Luton 01.07.06
A joint choice; both deserve to be on this list, and both with be forever linked. Two goals from behind the halfway line in less than a calendar year. One right-footed, one left-footed. I’m willing to wager that’s not going to happen again soon.
2. Steven Gerrard v West Ham 05.13.06
And we’re into obvious territory. There’s a reason the DVD of this game is sold with the title “The Steven Gerrard Final.” As you hear the injury time announced over the tannoy, Gerrard, who minutes before was laying on the pitch with cramp, pops up with this rocket that Shaka Hislop has no prayer of stopping.
1. Steven Gerrard v Olympiakos 05.25.05
As if there was any other choice. Enough’s been said. We do too much fawning over Stevie Me here as it is.
10. John Arne Riise v Birmingham 03.21.06
The pick of seven that Liverpool put past Birmingham in the quarter final of the 05/06 FA Cup. Since Benitez’s arrival at Anfield, Riise has become more prolific, with 14 goals since 2004, most of them screamers from outside the box. This goal wins out over other trademark JAR strikes against Chelsea (twice), Tottenham, and Manchester City.
9. Steven Gerrard v Aston Villa 04.29.06
Surprisingly, Stevie’s name appears frequently on this list. This was another game that Gerrard rescued, with two goals in the second half to beat a Villa side that was causing Liverpool more trouble than they should have.
8. Harry Kewell v Tottenham 01.14.06
When he’s been fit, Harry’s put in a couple of nice strikes, and looked last season to be returning to the Kewell of old. This goal against Tottenham was Liverpool’s only goal in a game that looked to be ending 0-0, and edges out Kewell’s superb goal against Everton last season.
7. Neil Mellor v Arsenal 11.28.04
Neil Mellor placed #90 in the “100 Players Who Shook The Kop,” and his piece starts off with Jaime Carragher saying “Oy, Mellor’s on here?” with a smiling surprised look on his face. After banging them in for the reserves, but undergoing numerous operations on his knees, it looked like Mellor was never going to make the first team. But he was instrumental during the Champions League-winning season, where injuries gave him an opportunity. Not only did he score this delightful winner against Arsenal, but he also set up Stevie’s goal against Olympiakos and scored one of his own as a sub in the comeback that saved Liverpool’s Champions League campaign.
6. Steven Gerrard v Middlesbrough 04.30.05
Another Gerrard belter. Similar to the Villa goal in the distance and the swerve on the ball, but the pass leading up to the goal and the touch that Gerrard displays before shooting is just gorgeous.
5. Peter Crouch v Galatasaray 09.27.06
For all the good touches he’s shown, I never thought Crouchy had this goal in him. He’s 6’7”. That’s a bicycle kick. You figure out this goal, I’m awful at physics.
4. Luis Garcia v Juventus 04.05.05
Finnan with a nice touch pass to Le Tallac, who hits it on the volley to Garcia who hits it on the volley into the back of the net from 30 yards curled over about $60,000,000 of goalkeeper. I’m amazed I’m only putting this fourth. This goal put Liverpool up 2-0 over Juve, and ended up being the difference in the aggregate score. Garcia was another essential piece in the Champions League puzzle; however frustrating he can be, he delivers big goals in big games.
3. Xabi Alonso v Newcastle 09.20.06; Xabi Alonso v Luton 01.07.06
A joint choice; both deserve to be on this list, and both with be forever linked. Two goals from behind the halfway line in less than a calendar year. One right-footed, one left-footed. I’m willing to wager that’s not going to happen again soon.
2. Steven Gerrard v West Ham 05.13.06
And we’re into obvious territory. There’s a reason the DVD of this game is sold with the title “The Steven Gerrard Final.” As you hear the injury time announced over the tannoy, Gerrard, who minutes before was laying on the pitch with cramp, pops up with this rocket that Shaka Hislop has no prayer of stopping.
1. Steven Gerrard v Olympiakos 05.25.05
As if there was any other choice. Enough’s been said. We do too much fawning over Stevie Me here as it is.
03 September 2006
For the uninitiated...
There's a reason this blog has a name that on first sight doesn't seem to fit with soccer.
That reason is Steven Gerrard.
That reason is Steven Gerrard.
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