27 February 2012
26 February 2012
Liverpool 2-2 Cardiff City aet
Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties
Goals:
Mason 19'
Skrtel 60'
Kuyt 108'
Turner 118'
Penalties:
Liverpool:Gerrard, Adam, Kuyt, Downing, Johnson
Cardiff:Miller, Cowie, Gestede, Whittingham, A Gerrard
So, yeah, cup finals. Wow. Nothing ever comes easy.
Only this side could beat league leaders Manchester City over two legs in the semi-finals – as well as two tough opponents away from home in the two previous rounds – and then barely beat Cardiff on penalties in this final. This was a breathless, heart-stopping, soul-crushing, exhilarating microcosm of the season so far. A microcosm that ended in the happiest way possible, with jubilant hands on silverware. Which, hopefully, is an excellent omen.
Liverpool took 39 shots compared to Cardiff's 11. Liverpool hit the bar in the second minute, and had a shot somehow cleared off the line in the second minute of extra time. Liverpool poked, prodded, created chances, and fumbled to break through. The first half was pure frustration, as we've seen time and time and time and time again, wasting openings both before and after Cardiff took lead against the run of play.
It was nearly the same XI which beat Brighton, with Agger replacing Carragher, but Liverpool shifted to a 4-4-2 which matched Cardiff's. Despite Liverpool chances, either created by Downing or shots from distance, Cardiff coped fair easily with men behind the ball and another poor performance from Henderson when on the right. Cardiff's goal was well worked but regrettable, as Liverpool gave the opposition space to pass before McNaughton set up Miller who set up Mason, threading a through-ball behind the defense when Agger stepped forward in an ill-concieved attempt to close down.
Knocked back once again, Liverpool's frustration was all too tangible as Cardiff defended diligently, comfortable piling men in their final third with the lead, daring Liverpool to break them down. Which they unsurprisingly struggled to do. Liverpool brought Bellamy on for the disappointing Henderson in the 57th and were level three minutes later, but it was due to a set play rather than a change in style; Suarez hit the bar when re-directing Carroll's flick of Downing's corner, with Skrtel well-placed to cram in the rebound.
Instead of using the equalizer as a platform, pushing past tiring lower-league opponents, Cardiff should have won the game in normal time. As usual, Liverpool had chances – Skrtel, Downing, and Adam had shots saved, Gerrard sailed one well over, Suarez couldn't control when released by an out-of-character defensive mistake – but Turner headed wide from point-blank range in 83rd before Miller blasted over from eight yards out with both time and space.
There only looked to be one winner in extra time; Liverpool had Suarez's header cleared off the line early on before Carroll, Bellamy, and Johnson put efforts narrowly wide. Then, three minutes into the second 15, Kuyt incomprehensibly gave Liverpool the lead. Bursting between two defenders, his initial attempt was a better cross than shot, but a deflection off a defender gave the Dutchman a second chance. He improbably seized it with both hands, hammering an unstoppable nail past Heaton despite losing his footing. He probably couldn't replicate it on a bet and it might well be the best goal he's scored for the club. If anyone deserved it. Big. Game. Player.
But again, Cardiff weren't beaten. And, almost unforgivably, Liverpool seemed to think the game was won with 12 minutes to play and an entire season-long catalog of evidence that things that can go wrong usually will. This Cardiff goal, with two minutes left, was absolutely deserved. Liverpool nearly conceded seconds earlier, cleared off the line by goal-scorer Kuyt. But he couldn't keep out the subsequent set play, scrambled in by Turner from two yards out.
Which led to the watching-through-hands-over-eyes lottery. And which started in the worst possible manner when Heaton made the best penalty save I've ever seen, somehow keeping out Gerrard's fiercely-taken spot kick. Miller missed Cardiff's first, but then Adam skied his effort out of the stadium. Cowie and Kuyt struck smartly before Gestede also hit the post, leaving it tied 1-1 after three kicks. Downing and Johnson both notched well-taken penalties despite the handicap of each's nationality, bracketing Wittingham's stone-cold finish. Then, substitute Anthony Gerrard – Cousin of Steven – walked to the spot. And horribly pushed a tame effort wide, probably saved by Reina even if on target. Cue wild celebrations coupled with agonizing heartbreak.
It goes without saying the result's infinitely harsh on Cardiff, especially the stomach punch that is a penalty loss. On the whole, they were tactically better than Liverpool and battled harder than Liverpool. Don't get me wrong, Liverpool battled as well, steadily working their way to the equalizer before taking an extra-time lead, but conceding with basically seconds to play is an absolute sin.
Liverpool's talent gap and cruel fortune won on the day. Even without Gerrard, Adam, Suarez, or Carroll at their best, other players stepped up when needed. Downing had his best game for Liverpool, Skrtel scored the crucial equalizer while maintaining his baby-killing je ne sais quoi in defense, Kuyt and Bellamy had starring roles off the bench, and Johnson and Enrique overlapped threateningly. And you can't fault the effort of anyone involved, except, of course, in the aftermath of what looked to be Liverpool's winner.
As feared, this was an awful lot like the league cup final against Birmingham 11 years ago. But while Liverpool made harder work of it than either expected or needed, Liverpool still won. Now, the club need to replicate that season's accomplishment by using this win to push on in the FA Cup and the chase for fourth.
Goals:
Mason 19'
Skrtel 60'
Kuyt 108'
Turner 118'
Penalties:
Liverpool:
Cardiff:
So, yeah, cup finals. Wow. Nothing ever comes easy.
Only this side could beat league leaders Manchester City over two legs in the semi-finals – as well as two tough opponents away from home in the two previous rounds – and then barely beat Cardiff on penalties in this final. This was a breathless, heart-stopping, soul-crushing, exhilarating microcosm of the season so far. A microcosm that ended in the happiest way possible, with jubilant hands on silverware. Which, hopefully, is an excellent omen.
Liverpool took 39 shots compared to Cardiff's 11. Liverpool hit the bar in the second minute, and had a shot somehow cleared off the line in the second minute of extra time. Liverpool poked, prodded, created chances, and fumbled to break through. The first half was pure frustration, as we've seen time and time and time and time again, wasting openings both before and after Cardiff took lead against the run of play.
It was nearly the same XI which beat Brighton, with Agger replacing Carragher, but Liverpool shifted to a 4-4-2 which matched Cardiff's. Despite Liverpool chances, either created by Downing or shots from distance, Cardiff coped fair easily with men behind the ball and another poor performance from Henderson when on the right. Cardiff's goal was well worked but regrettable, as Liverpool gave the opposition space to pass before McNaughton set up Miller who set up Mason, threading a through-ball behind the defense when Agger stepped forward in an ill-concieved attempt to close down.
Knocked back once again, Liverpool's frustration was all too tangible as Cardiff defended diligently, comfortable piling men in their final third with the lead, daring Liverpool to break them down. Which they unsurprisingly struggled to do. Liverpool brought Bellamy on for the disappointing Henderson in the 57th and were level three minutes later, but it was due to a set play rather than a change in style; Suarez hit the bar when re-directing Carroll's flick of Downing's corner, with Skrtel well-placed to cram in the rebound.
Instead of using the equalizer as a platform, pushing past tiring lower-league opponents, Cardiff should have won the game in normal time. As usual, Liverpool had chances – Skrtel, Downing, and Adam had shots saved, Gerrard sailed one well over, Suarez couldn't control when released by an out-of-character defensive mistake – but Turner headed wide from point-blank range in 83rd before Miller blasted over from eight yards out with both time and space.
There only looked to be one winner in extra time; Liverpool had Suarez's header cleared off the line early on before Carroll, Bellamy, and Johnson put efforts narrowly wide. Then, three minutes into the second 15, Kuyt incomprehensibly gave Liverpool the lead. Bursting between two defenders, his initial attempt was a better cross than shot, but a deflection off a defender gave the Dutchman a second chance. He improbably seized it with both hands, hammering an unstoppable nail past Heaton despite losing his footing. He probably couldn't replicate it on a bet and it might well be the best goal he's scored for the club. If anyone deserved it. Big. Game. Player.
But again, Cardiff weren't beaten. And, almost unforgivably, Liverpool seemed to think the game was won with 12 minutes to play and an entire season-long catalog of evidence that things that can go wrong usually will. This Cardiff goal, with two minutes left, was absolutely deserved. Liverpool nearly conceded seconds earlier, cleared off the line by goal-scorer Kuyt. But he couldn't keep out the subsequent set play, scrambled in by Turner from two yards out.
Which led to the watching-through-hands-over-eyes lottery. And which started in the worst possible manner when Heaton made the best penalty save I've ever seen, somehow keeping out Gerrard's fiercely-taken spot kick. Miller missed Cardiff's first, but then Adam skied his effort out of the stadium. Cowie and Kuyt struck smartly before Gestede also hit the post, leaving it tied 1-1 after three kicks. Downing and Johnson both notched well-taken penalties despite the handicap of each's nationality, bracketing Wittingham's stone-cold finish. Then, substitute Anthony Gerrard – Cousin of Steven – walked to the spot. And horribly pushed a tame effort wide, probably saved by Reina even if on target. Cue wild celebrations coupled with agonizing heartbreak.
It goes without saying the result's infinitely harsh on Cardiff, especially the stomach punch that is a penalty loss. On the whole, they were tactically better than Liverpool and battled harder than Liverpool. Don't get me wrong, Liverpool battled as well, steadily working their way to the equalizer before taking an extra-time lead, but conceding with basically seconds to play is an absolute sin.
Liverpool's talent gap and cruel fortune won on the day. Even without Gerrard, Adam, Suarez, or Carroll at their best, other players stepped up when needed. Downing had his best game for Liverpool, Skrtel scored the crucial equalizer while maintaining his baby-killing je ne sais quoi in defense, Kuyt and Bellamy had starring roles off the bench, and Johnson and Enrique overlapped threateningly. And you can't fault the effort of anyone involved, except, of course, in the aftermath of what looked to be Liverpool's winner.
As feared, this was an awful lot like the league cup final against Birmingham 11 years ago. But while Liverpool made harder work of it than either expected or needed, Liverpool still won. Now, the club need to replicate that season's accomplishment by using this win to push on in the FA Cup and the chase for fourth.
24 February 2012
Liverpool v Cardiff City 02.26.12
11am ET, live in the US on FSC
Last four head-to-head:
2-1 Liverpool (h; Carling Cup) 10.31.07
0-4 Cardiff (h) 12.19.59
2-3 Cardiff (a) 08.22.59
0-3 Cardiff (a) 02.14.59
Previous rounds:
Liverpool: 2-2 City (h); 1-0 City (a); 2-1 Chelsea (a); 2-1 Stoke (a); 2-1 Brighton (a); 3-1 Exeter (a)
Cardiff: 1-0 Palace aet [3-1 pens] (h); 0-1 Palace (a); 2-0 Blackburn (h); 1-0 Burnley (a); 2-2 Leicester aet [7-6 pens] (h); 5-3 Huddersfield aet (h); 3-1 Oxford aet (a)
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 6-1 Brighton (h); 1-2 United (a); 0-0 Spurs (h)
Cardiff: 0-3 Ipswich (a); 3-1 Peterborough (h); 1-2 Leicester (a)
Goalscorers (Carling Cup):
Liverpool: Suarez 3; Bellamy, Gerrard, Maxi 2; Carroll, Kelly, Kuyt 1
Cardiff: Cowie 3; Conway 2, Gerrard, Gestede, Gyepes, Jarvis, Mason, Miller, Parkin, Whittingham 1
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Guess at a line-up:
Reina
Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique
Gerrard Adam
Henderson
Suarez Carroll Bellamy
Liverpool are in the League Cup Final. It's been six years since the club won a trophy, and they're heavily-favored against Championship opposition. I'll tell you how it plays out. Liverpool score early, are unable to get the crucial second, concede a rash injury time penalty equalizer, nearly concede a second penalty in extra time, and finally win after a shootout, thanks to the goalkeeper stopping two spot-kicks.
How do I know this? It already happened. That was the 2001 League Cup final against Birmingham. For those who enjoy symmetry, that final was played in Cardiff. Jamie Carragher, of all players, scored the winning spot kick; unsurprisingly, he and Gerrard are the only two left from that squad. Liverpool later went on to lift the FA and UEFA Cups for an unlikely treble.
There's also the 2005/06 FA Cup final, that most-recent Liverpool trophy, where the club were heavily favored to beat newly-promoted West Ham but had to stage a remarkable Gerrard-led comeback to make it to the penalty lottery. And I doubt I need to remind of last season's Carling Cup final, where everyone assumed Arsenal would break their trophy drought with a romp (including Arsenal), only to see Birmingham snatch an unbelievable winner at the death thanks to an all-time comedic clusterfuck.
Cup finals rarely play out the expected scripts. Thankfully, it's safe to assume Dalglish is well-aware of their foibles, as are Gerrard, Carra, and other senior players. I highly doubt the manager will let complacency seep in. This trophy hasn't been won just by reaching Wembley for the first time since blah blah blah. At the same time, keeping players relaxed with be just as important; every single man in red knows that Liverpool haven't won a trophy since blah blah blah, while Cardiff have next to no pressure or expectations.
Sticking with the 4-2-1-3 formation we saw against Brighton, where Liverpool's attack looked ever so potent, seems the likely plan. At most, Agger should replace Carragher, while Bellamy will probably come in for Downing; both players should be fit after missing last Sunday's match with unspecified knocks.
If Liverpool stick with the 4-2-1-3, Spearing for Henderson seems the only possible change in midfield. However, the base of Gerrard-Adam defended adequately against Brighton, Spearing usually plays deeper than Gerrard or Adam (making the formation more a 4-1-2-3/4-1-4-1, which could leave Liverpool exposed to Cardiff's multiple midfield runners), and Gerrard's rarely played as an out-and-out attacking midfielder under Dalglish.
The one argument against starting Bellamy in place of Downing is that having Suarez, Carroll, and Bellamy all on the pitch leaves little room for dynamic changes if, Fowler forbid, things aren't going to plan. God loves a trier, but Kuyt and Downing aren't impact subs. No matter the opposition, the front three combined promisingly a week ago. But Bellamy's been one of Liverpool's most-consistent scorers and scoring against another former club, this his hometown team, seems almost written in the stars.
Cardiff currently sit fifth in the Championship, smack in the middle of the playoff chase and just seven points from first. But since beating Palace on penalties a month ago, Cardiff have won just once: 3-1 over 18th-placed Peterborough on Valentine's Day, losing three and drawing one in the others.
Cardiff usually play a 4-1-4-1 or 4-4-2 formation; this is an outstanding preview from Cardiff's point of view. Midfielder Peter Whittingham, with nine goals and 11 assists, is on the three-man shortlist for Championship player of the season. Kenny Miller, joint top-scorer with Whittingham, is a wily Scot, while Cowie and Conway are dangerous from the flanks. Miller, Cowie, and Conway, along with midfield axis Aron Gunnarson and defenders Taylor and Turner, all joined Cardiff last summer. And, as you're probably aware, Steven Gerrard's cousin Anthony could start in central defense.
The Bluebirds beat just one Premiership opponent on their path to the final, a 2-0 home win over Blackburn in the quarterfinals. Four of their six cup matches required extra time, two – including the semi-final – went to penalties. Cardiff know what it's like to win a cagey, close cup match, will be able to play without pressure as the underdogs, and will be diligent, prepared, and difficult to break down. And, like we've said all season, Liverpool will have to capitalize, something they've not done nearly enough. In this case, there's a very tangible reward just over the horizon.
Last four head-to-head:
2-1 Liverpool (h; Carling Cup) 10.31.07
0-4 Cardiff (h) 12.19.59
2-3 Cardiff (a) 08.22.59
0-3 Cardiff (a) 02.14.59
Previous rounds:
Liverpool: 2-2 City (h); 1-0 City (a); 2-1 Chelsea (a); 2-1 Stoke (a); 2-1 Brighton (a); 3-1 Exeter (a)
Cardiff: 1-0 Palace aet [3-1 pens] (h); 0-1 Palace (a); 2-0 Blackburn (h); 1-0 Burnley (a); 2-2 Leicester aet [7-6 pens] (h); 5-3 Huddersfield aet (h); 3-1 Oxford aet (a)
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 6-1 Brighton (h); 1-2 United (a); 0-0 Spurs (h)
Cardiff: 0-3 Ipswich (a); 3-1 Peterborough (h); 1-2 Leicester (a)
Goalscorers (Carling Cup):
Liverpool: Suarez 3; Bellamy, Gerrard, Maxi 2; Carroll, Kelly, Kuyt 1
Cardiff: Cowie 3; Conway 2, Gerrard, Gestede, Gyepes, Jarvis, Mason, Miller, Parkin, Whittingham 1
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Guess at a line-up:
Reina
Johnson Skrtel Agger Enrique
Gerrard Adam
Henderson
Suarez Carroll Bellamy
Liverpool are in the League Cup Final. It's been six years since the club won a trophy, and they're heavily-favored against Championship opposition. I'll tell you how it plays out. Liverpool score early, are unable to get the crucial second, concede a rash injury time penalty equalizer, nearly concede a second penalty in extra time, and finally win after a shootout, thanks to the goalkeeper stopping two spot-kicks.
How do I know this? It already happened. That was the 2001 League Cup final against Birmingham. For those who enjoy symmetry, that final was played in Cardiff. Jamie Carragher, of all players, scored the winning spot kick; unsurprisingly, he and Gerrard are the only two left from that squad. Liverpool later went on to lift the FA and UEFA Cups for an unlikely treble.
There's also the 2005/06 FA Cup final, that most-recent Liverpool trophy, where the club were heavily favored to beat newly-promoted West Ham but had to stage a remarkable Gerrard-led comeback to make it to the penalty lottery. And I doubt I need to remind of last season's Carling Cup final, where everyone assumed Arsenal would break their trophy drought with a romp (including Arsenal), only to see Birmingham snatch an unbelievable winner at the death thanks to an all-time comedic clusterfuck.
Cup finals rarely play out the expected scripts. Thankfully, it's safe to assume Dalglish is well-aware of their foibles, as are Gerrard, Carra, and other senior players. I highly doubt the manager will let complacency seep in. This trophy hasn't been won just by reaching Wembley for the first time since blah blah blah. At the same time, keeping players relaxed with be just as important; every single man in red knows that Liverpool haven't won a trophy since blah blah blah, while Cardiff have next to no pressure or expectations.
Sticking with the 4-2-1-3 formation we saw against Brighton, where Liverpool's attack looked ever so potent, seems the likely plan. At most, Agger should replace Carragher, while Bellamy will probably come in for Downing; both players should be fit after missing last Sunday's match with unspecified knocks.
If Liverpool stick with the 4-2-1-3, Spearing for Henderson seems the only possible change in midfield. However, the base of Gerrard-Adam defended adequately against Brighton, Spearing usually plays deeper than Gerrard or Adam (making the formation more a 4-1-2-3/4-1-4-1, which could leave Liverpool exposed to Cardiff's multiple midfield runners), and Gerrard's rarely played as an out-and-out attacking midfielder under Dalglish.
The one argument against starting Bellamy in place of Downing is that having Suarez, Carroll, and Bellamy all on the pitch leaves little room for dynamic changes if, Fowler forbid, things aren't going to plan. God loves a trier, but Kuyt and Downing aren't impact subs. No matter the opposition, the front three combined promisingly a week ago. But Bellamy's been one of Liverpool's most-consistent scorers and scoring against another former club, this his hometown team, seems almost written in the stars.
Cardiff currently sit fifth in the Championship, smack in the middle of the playoff chase and just seven points from first. But since beating Palace on penalties a month ago, Cardiff have won just once: 3-1 over 18th-placed Peterborough on Valentine's Day, losing three and drawing one in the others.
Cardiff usually play a 4-1-4-1 or 4-4-2 formation; this is an outstanding preview from Cardiff's point of view. Midfielder Peter Whittingham, with nine goals and 11 assists, is on the three-man shortlist for Championship player of the season. Kenny Miller, joint top-scorer with Whittingham, is a wily Scot, while Cowie and Conway are dangerous from the flanks. Miller, Cowie, and Conway, along with midfield axis Aron Gunnarson and defenders Taylor and Turner, all joined Cardiff last summer. And, as you're probably aware, Steven Gerrard's cousin Anthony could start in central defense.
The Bluebirds beat just one Premiership opponent on their path to the final, a 2-0 home win over Blackburn in the quarterfinals. Four of their six cup matches required extra time, two – including the semi-final – went to penalties. Cardiff know what it's like to win a cagey, close cup match, will be able to play without pressure as the underdogs, and will be diligent, prepared, and difficult to break down. And, like we've said all season, Liverpool will have to capitalize, something they've not done nearly enough. In this case, there's a very tangible reward just over the horizon.
23 February 2012
Infographic – Premier League Manager Turnover
Yes, a post not solely on Liverpool. I actually have them in me now and then.
The Premier League has been rife with managerial gossip over the last few months, as the league always seems to be. Mick McCarthy was recently fired after five-and-a-half seasons in charge of Wolves. Martin O'Neill and Mark Hughes replaced Bruce and Warnock at Sunderland and QPR in December and January. Steve Kean spent his holidays celebrating still having a job before gratefully seeing his name out of the headlines of late. And then there's poor, forlorn Andre Villas-Boas, hanging on by fingernails as "senior Chelsea players" attempt to throw him off the Bridge. There have been three mid-season managerial changes so far this season; there were four last season (not counting O'Neill walking out on Villa just before opening day) and five in 2009-10.
Below is a cropped version of the graphic. Necessarily wider than it is tall, click on the image for the full-size version in a new window.
Just six clubs have had four or fewer managers since 2000: notably United and Arsenal, with Ferguson and Wenger in charge since the dawn of time, as well as Everton, Liverpool, Bolton and Wolves. The latter will exit that group soon, once Wolves finally find a replacement for McCarthy. United, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Everton are also four of the seven clubs which have been in the Premiership for the totality of this time frame; Tottenham, Chelsea, and Aston Villa round out the septet.
The average number of managers each club has had over this time frame is 5.65. No, I'm not counting Alan Shearer as 0.65 of a manager. QPR leads the way with 11 "permanent" managers, 10 since 2006, dysfunctional in extremis after Holloway left until (and now seemingly including) Tony Fernandes' purchase of the club last August. Including caretaker managers, QPR has had 16 different bosses since the turn of the century. Newcastle and Sunderland are close behind with nine each, although Sunderland's tally includes the lone caretaker counted, Kevin Ball, who managed for more than two months during the Mackems' march toward inevitable relegation in 2006. And then comes Chelsea, with eight different managers since 2000. Soon to be nine, naturally, once Abramovich's yacht reaches port. The ravenous media almost always get their scalps. And they want their scalps.
With McCarthy's sacking, we're down to just five managers who have been in place since the 2008-09 season: Ferguson, Wenger, Moyes, Pulis, and Redknapp. Again, that band looks likely to lose another brother once England come calling for good old 'Arry. As always, nothing is permanent for very long.
The Premier League has been rife with managerial gossip over the last few months, as the league always seems to be. Mick McCarthy was recently fired after five-and-a-half seasons in charge of Wolves. Martin O'Neill and Mark Hughes replaced Bruce and Warnock at Sunderland and QPR in December and January. Steve Kean spent his holidays celebrating still having a job before gratefully seeing his name out of the headlines of late. And then there's poor, forlorn Andre Villas-Boas, hanging on by fingernails as "senior Chelsea players" attempt to throw him off the Bridge. There have been three mid-season managerial changes so far this season; there were four last season (not counting O'Neill walking out on Villa just before opening day) and five in 2009-10.
Below is a cropped version of the graphic. Necessarily wider than it is tall, click on the image for the full-size version in a new window.
Just six clubs have had four or fewer managers since 2000: notably United and Arsenal, with Ferguson and Wenger in charge since the dawn of time, as well as Everton, Liverpool, Bolton and Wolves. The latter will exit that group soon, once Wolves finally find a replacement for McCarthy. United, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Everton are also four of the seven clubs which have been in the Premiership for the totality of this time frame; Tottenham, Chelsea, and Aston Villa round out the septet.
The average number of managers each club has had over this time frame is 5.65. No, I'm not counting Alan Shearer as 0.65 of a manager. QPR leads the way with 11 "permanent" managers, 10 since 2006, dysfunctional in extremis after Holloway left until (and now seemingly including) Tony Fernandes' purchase of the club last August. Including caretaker managers, QPR has had 16 different bosses since the turn of the century. Newcastle and Sunderland are close behind with nine each, although Sunderland's tally includes the lone caretaker counted, Kevin Ball, who managed for more than two months during the Mackems' march toward inevitable relegation in 2006. And then comes Chelsea, with eight different managers since 2000. Soon to be nine, naturally, once Abramovich's yacht reaches port. The ravenous media almost always get their scalps. And they want their scalps.
With McCarthy's sacking, we're down to just five managers who have been in place since the 2008-09 season: Ferguson, Wenger, Moyes, Pulis, and Redknapp. Again, that band looks likely to lose another brother once England come calling for good old 'Arry. As always, nothing is permanent for very long.
20 February 2012
Infographic Update – A Settled Backline
Briefly, I thought I'd revisit a graphic from almost exactly a year ago.
At this point last season, Liverpool had used 22 different starting defenses through 40 matches. No back-line had started more than five matches together. Six weeks into his reign, in the wake of Hodgson's havoc, Dalglish was experimenting with every possible defensive combination, hands tied by injuries and a lack of fullbacks, including notable three-at-the-back wins over Chelsea and Stoke.
This season has been a bit different. Through 34 matches, Liverpool has used just 14 defensive combinations. The Johnson-Skrtel-Agger-Enrique quartet is clearly first choice, having started 15 of 34 matches. No other group has started more than three. Of the nine defenses to start just one match, six came in the cups, where the squad is almost always rotated to give second-choice players a run out and/or to rest the first-choice players. Comparatively, Johnson-Skrtel-Agger-Enrique has started just one cup match, the second leg semifinal against Manchester City, arguably the most important cup match of the season to date. I expect that foursome will make its second cup appearance in Sunday's Carling Cup final.
Through last season's 40 matches, Liverpool conceded 39 goals, an average of 0.975 per game. This season, through 34 matches over the same time frame, the side's conceded 31, an average of 0.912 per game. Liverpool actually kept more clean sheets through this point last season – 17 compared to 12 – but seven of those 17 came in the Europa League. Plus, six more matches played, etc.
While Liverpool haven't kept as many clean sheets as expected or hoped for, the back-line has been the side's strongest feature this season. Consistency plays a large role in that; it's no coincidence that despite Benitez's well-known fondness for rotation, he changed his back four (especially the central pairing) as little as possible. Liverpool have been relatively lucky with injuries (knocking feverishly on wood) this season, Skrtel and Agger are having career years, and Enrique has turned out to be one of Liverpool's best recent signings. Dalglish and Clarke's first task when steadying the ship was to sort out the defense, and on the whole, they've been successful. Through 25 league games, Liverpool have conceded just 23 goals, fewer than the 26 conceded in 2010-11 or the 31 conceded in 2009-10.
Now, if only it were so easy to sort out Liverpool's attack.
At this point last season, Liverpool had used 22 different starting defenses through 40 matches. No back-line had started more than five matches together. Six weeks into his reign, in the wake of Hodgson's havoc, Dalglish was experimenting with every possible defensive combination, hands tied by injuries and a lack of fullbacks, including notable three-at-the-back wins over Chelsea and Stoke.
This season has been a bit different. Through 34 matches, Liverpool has used just 14 defensive combinations. The Johnson-Skrtel-Agger-Enrique quartet is clearly first choice, having started 15 of 34 matches. No other group has started more than three. Of the nine defenses to start just one match, six came in the cups, where the squad is almost always rotated to give second-choice players a run out and/or to rest the first-choice players. Comparatively, Johnson-Skrtel-Agger-Enrique has started just one cup match, the second leg semifinal against Manchester City, arguably the most important cup match of the season to date. I expect that foursome will make its second cup appearance in Sunday's Carling Cup final.
Through last season's 40 matches, Liverpool conceded 39 goals, an average of 0.975 per game. This season, through 34 matches over the same time frame, the side's conceded 31, an average of 0.912 per game. Liverpool actually kept more clean sheets through this point last season – 17 compared to 12 – but seven of those 17 came in the Europa League. Plus, six more matches played, etc.
While Liverpool haven't kept as many clean sheets as expected or hoped for, the back-line has been the side's strongest feature this season. Consistency plays a large role in that; it's no coincidence that despite Benitez's well-known fondness for rotation, he changed his back four (especially the central pairing) as little as possible. Liverpool have been relatively lucky with injuries (knocking feverishly on wood) this season, Skrtel and Agger are having career years, and Enrique has turned out to be one of Liverpool's best recent signings. Dalglish and Clarke's first task when steadying the ship was to sort out the defense, and on the whole, they've been successful. Through 25 league games, Liverpool have conceded just 23 goals, fewer than the 26 conceded in 2010-11 or the 31 conceded in 2009-10.
Now, if only it were so easy to sort out Liverpool's attack.
19 February 2012
Liverpool 6-1 Brighton
Goals:
Skrtel 5'
Lua Lua 17'
Bridcutt (og) 44' 71'
Carroll 57'
Dunk (og) 75'
Suarez 85'
Well, that had a little bit of everything. Set play goals, incredulous equalizer goals, a trio of own goals, Downing to Carroll goals, and Carroll to Suarez goals. Liverpool missed a penalty and hit the woodwork and still somehow scored six. Another FA Cup tie with a glut of goals after too many games with too few. Capped off by a streaker running the length of the pitch in injury time. Typical and atypical, wonderfully so.
Liverpool started in the best possible manner, opening the scoring within five minutes. Deftly mimicking his goal at Aston Villa, Skrtel out-muscled three at the near post, flicking a header past Brezovan, the seventh time Liverpool have scored from a corner this season.
It wouldn't be the last Liverpool tallied from a corner today, and it should have been the platform for a romp. It eventually would be. But first, the usual frustration and an unlikely equalizer had to be fought past. Again. In the 16th minute, Suarez didn't win a free kick, to his obvious frustration, and Brighton immediately countered, getting a free kick of their own as Henderson clipped Lua Lua from behind. The same player stepped up from 25 yards out, blasting through a broken wall as players tried to charge down the touched free kick.
For just under half an hour, Liverpool impotently pushed back, trying to retake their deserved lead. Brighton players twice cleared off the line, from Downing's shot/cross across the face and Suarez's infinitely clever toe-poke. Carroll and Adam put efforts over the bar, Suarez had multiple shots blocked, and Carroll kept pleading for a penalty that'd never come after hand-to-hand combat with El Abd. It was all too frustratingly familiar: chances created but dreams deferred.
Finally getting the second just before the interval made all the difference. Surprise. Gerrard had a free kick palmed over, and the scramble from the resulting corner ended with a Bridcutt own goal following rebounds from Suarez and Johnson. Goals win games, but just as importantly, goals restore confidence. Clearly buoyed, it took just 12 minutes from the restart to get the game-killing third. And Liverpool had multiple chances to extend the lead prior. Suarez was twice denied, Henderson redirected Gerrard's off-target shot just wide, Brezovan parried Downing's blast. Then, in a flowing move, Downing finally set up a goal for Carroll, his first assist of the season, when the mammoth striker sweetly side-footed the winger's low cross.
The final 35 minutes were a formality – an enjoyable formality, but a formality nonetheless. Comfortably ahead, Liverpool's hardly-threatened defense soaked up pressure, content to counter-attack. Frequently. A 71st-minute counter-attack saw Liverpool's fourth, as Henderson wonderfully found Gerrard over the top, allowed possession after hilarious confusion from Greer and Brezovan, with a shot again turned in by Bridcutt after Gerrard's first effort was saved.
Four minutes later, Liverpool completed an hat-trick of own goals as Dunk haplessly made this season's gag reel, taking three touches in an attempt to clear Suarez's cross but somehow just taking the ball over his own goal line. After making a triple substitution – with Kuyt, Maxi, and Shelvey replacing Henderson, Downing, and Gerrard – Liverpool wasted a chance for a sixth when Kuyt was felled in the box; in an attempt to force a goal for his own confidence, Suarez stepped to the spot. And promptly missed for the second time this season, with his tame penalty easily saved before Brezovan somehow prevented three players from reaching the rebound. However, the same player made amends with the capstone five minutes later, heading in from close range after Carroll put Enrique's cross on a plate, with Brighton again torn asunder with a rampant fast break.
It's hard to judge on one match, especially in a domestic cup against lower-division opposition. Liverpool's performance may merit the score line, and could have merited even more goals, but a fully-demoralized Brighton conceded some very soft goals with the outcome already assured. Regardless, the 4-2-1-3 formation looked promising: pairing Suarez and Carroll without the restrictions of 4-4-2, a solid center with Gerrard, Adam, and Henderson and without an out-and-out holding midfielder. Even Downing looked more threatening. Liverpool's defense had exceptionally little to do, well protected by the midfield. The formation may have mutated into more of a 4-4-2 in the second half, especially after the crucial third, but the initial output was intriguing to say the least.
Liverpool have used multiple variants on the 4-5-1 over the course of the campaign. But Suarez, Carroll, and another have been a three-man front line in just two: the 0-1 loss at Fulham and 0-4 loss at Spurs, the two fixtures where Liverpool had a man sent off. Gerrard, Adam, and Henderson have been a midfield trio in just one: the first leg semifinal at Manchester City. It's also, notably, the first time Gerrard, Suarez, and Carroll started together all season.
The latter two scored, and all three players impressed. Gerrard dictated play with Adam while Carroll continues to improve, learning to throw his weight and talent around within Liverpool's system. Suarez wasn't as effervescently explosive, too often losing possession when trying to dribble past defenders and too often petulantly frustrated, but he was still a barely-stoppable handful trying to set the tone, regardless of his weak penalty. Downing had his best game for the club after so many invisible performances, Adam was steady and stable while still splitting defenses, and Henderson was full of running. There's little more than can be asked from the performances of all involved, with the added bonus of goals goals goals. Unfortunately, there's also the overly pessimistic notion that cup matches and lower league opposition haven't been Liverpool's problem this season.
Skrtel 5'
Lua Lua 17'
Bridcutt (og) 44' 71'
Carroll 57'
Dunk (og) 75'
Suarez 85'
Well, that had a little bit of everything. Set play goals, incredulous equalizer goals, a trio of own goals, Downing to Carroll goals, and Carroll to Suarez goals. Liverpool missed a penalty and hit the woodwork and still somehow scored six. Another FA Cup tie with a glut of goals after too many games with too few. Capped off by a streaker running the length of the pitch in injury time. Typical and atypical, wonderfully so.
Liverpool started in the best possible manner, opening the scoring within five minutes. Deftly mimicking his goal at Aston Villa, Skrtel out-muscled three at the near post, flicking a header past Brezovan, the seventh time Liverpool have scored from a corner this season.
It wouldn't be the last Liverpool tallied from a corner today, and it should have been the platform for a romp. It eventually would be. But first, the usual frustration and an unlikely equalizer had to be fought past. Again. In the 16th minute, Suarez didn't win a free kick, to his obvious frustration, and Brighton immediately countered, getting a free kick of their own as Henderson clipped Lua Lua from behind. The same player stepped up from 25 yards out, blasting through a broken wall as players tried to charge down the touched free kick.
For just under half an hour, Liverpool impotently pushed back, trying to retake their deserved lead. Brighton players twice cleared off the line, from Downing's shot/cross across the face and Suarez's infinitely clever toe-poke. Carroll and Adam put efforts over the bar, Suarez had multiple shots blocked, and Carroll kept pleading for a penalty that'd never come after hand-to-hand combat with El Abd. It was all too frustratingly familiar: chances created but dreams deferred.
Finally getting the second just before the interval made all the difference. Surprise. Gerrard had a free kick palmed over, and the scramble from the resulting corner ended with a Bridcutt own goal following rebounds from Suarez and Johnson. Goals win games, but just as importantly, goals restore confidence. Clearly buoyed, it took just 12 minutes from the restart to get the game-killing third. And Liverpool had multiple chances to extend the lead prior. Suarez was twice denied, Henderson redirected Gerrard's off-target shot just wide, Brezovan parried Downing's blast. Then, in a flowing move, Downing finally set up a goal for Carroll, his first assist of the season, when the mammoth striker sweetly side-footed the winger's low cross.
The final 35 minutes were a formality – an enjoyable formality, but a formality nonetheless. Comfortably ahead, Liverpool's hardly-threatened defense soaked up pressure, content to counter-attack. Frequently. A 71st-minute counter-attack saw Liverpool's fourth, as Henderson wonderfully found Gerrard over the top, allowed possession after hilarious confusion from Greer and Brezovan, with a shot again turned in by Bridcutt after Gerrard's first effort was saved.
Four minutes later, Liverpool completed an hat-trick of own goals as Dunk haplessly made this season's gag reel, taking three touches in an attempt to clear Suarez's cross but somehow just taking the ball over his own goal line. After making a triple substitution – with Kuyt, Maxi, and Shelvey replacing Henderson, Downing, and Gerrard – Liverpool wasted a chance for a sixth when Kuyt was felled in the box; in an attempt to force a goal for his own confidence, Suarez stepped to the spot. And promptly missed for the second time this season, with his tame penalty easily saved before Brezovan somehow prevented three players from reaching the rebound. However, the same player made amends with the capstone five minutes later, heading in from close range after Carroll put Enrique's cross on a plate, with Brighton again torn asunder with a rampant fast break.
It's hard to judge on one match, especially in a domestic cup against lower-division opposition. Liverpool's performance may merit the score line, and could have merited even more goals, but a fully-demoralized Brighton conceded some very soft goals with the outcome already assured. Regardless, the 4-2-1-3 formation looked promising: pairing Suarez and Carroll without the restrictions of 4-4-2, a solid center with Gerrard, Adam, and Henderson and without an out-and-out holding midfielder. Even Downing looked more threatening. Liverpool's defense had exceptionally little to do, well protected by the midfield. The formation may have mutated into more of a 4-4-2 in the second half, especially after the crucial third, but the initial output was intriguing to say the least.
Liverpool have used multiple variants on the 4-5-1 over the course of the campaign. But Suarez, Carroll, and another have been a three-man front line in just two: the 0-1 loss at Fulham and 0-4 loss at Spurs, the two fixtures where Liverpool had a man sent off. Gerrard, Adam, and Henderson have been a midfield trio in just one: the first leg semifinal at Manchester City. It's also, notably, the first time Gerrard, Suarez, and Carroll started together all season.
The latter two scored, and all three players impressed. Gerrard dictated play with Adam while Carroll continues to improve, learning to throw his weight and talent around within Liverpool's system. Suarez wasn't as effervescently explosive, too often losing possession when trying to dribble past defenders and too often petulantly frustrated, but he was still a barely-stoppable handful trying to set the tone, regardless of his weak penalty. Downing had his best game for the club after so many invisible performances, Adam was steady and stable while still splitting defenses, and Henderson was full of running. There's little more than can be asked from the performances of all involved, with the added bonus of goals goals goals. Unfortunately, there's also the overly pessimistic notion that cup matches and lower league opposition haven't been Liverpool's problem this season.
17 February 2012
Liverpool v Brighton 02.19.12
11:30am ET, live in the US on FSC.
Last four head-to-head:
2-1 Liverpool (a; League Cup) 09.21.11
2-3 Liverpool (a; FA Cup) 01.30.91
2-2 (h; FA Cup) 01.26.91
4-0 Liverpool (h; League Cup) 10.29.85
Previous rounds:
Liverpool: 2-1 United (h); 5-1 Oldham (h)
Brighton: 1-0 Newcastle (h); 1-1 Wrexham [5-4 pens] (a); 1-1 Wrexham (h)
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 1-2 United (a); 3-0 Wolves (a); 0-0 Spurs (h)
Brighton: 2-2 Millwall (h); 2-1 Leeds (a); 1-0 Leiceister (h)
Goalscorers (all competitions):
Liverpool: Bellamy, Suarez 9; Carroll, Gerrard 5; Maxi 4; Kuyt 3; Adam, Skrtel 2; Agger, Downing, Henderson, Johnson, Kelly, Shelvey 1
Brighton: Barnes 9; Mackail-Smith 8; Buckley 7; Caskey, Harley, Noone, Sparrow 2; Calderon, Greer, Hoskins, Lua Lua, Navarro, Vicente, Vincelot, Vokes 1
Referee: Andre Marriner
First time Marriner's done a Liverpool game since All The Evil started against United in October.
Guess at a line-up:
Reina
Kelly Skrtel Agger Enrique
Kuyt Spearing Gerrard Maxi
Carroll Suarez
Did everyone have a good week? I apologize for the radio silence since Saturday, but the weekend's shenanigans necessitated a small break from football. Recharging the batteries, repressing memories, etc. You know the routine. I don't appear to have missed much, thankfully.
As it's a cup tie, expect some changes, but I'd be exceptionally surprised if Liverpool don't deploy a mostly full-strength lineup. Dalglish has taken the cups very seriously so far, evidenced by Liverpool's progress in both. Plus, it's not as if these ties are sandwiched between league fixtures, as happened earlier in the campaign. There have been eight days since the last match, and there will be seven days until the next – which happens to be the Carling Cup final.
Now back from suspension, will we see Suarez reform his strike partnership with Carroll? Or will Liverpool stick with the 4-2-3-1/4-2-1-3/4-1-4-1 whatever it's 4-5-1 formation we've seen in the last five matches? Or will Dalglish keep Suarez in reserve, because it's a cup tie or because of last week's antics?
Not only do I expect Liverpool to keep faith with Suarez (even if he may not deserve it), but also a return to the 4-4-2. The 4-5-1 formation(s) has worked well for Liverpool over the last five matches, but when both Suarez and Carroll started prior to the former's suspension, it was usually in the 4-4-2. At home against Brighton, Liverpool have more license to test that formation than, say, away against Manchester United. Suarez playing wider, with Kuyt, Bellamy, or Downing on the other side of Carroll, remains a possibility, but the Uruguayan's almost always played as an out-and-out striker over the last year.
If Liverpool do play 4-4-2, Spearing and Gerrard seemingly have to be the midfield pairing. Spearing's defensive capabilities are often essential, while Gerrard rightfully remains the first-choice midfielder. Adam's started more matches than all but Reina and Enrique, but the less said about the Gerrard-Adam midfield pairing the better. As usual, questions linger over who plays on the flanks. Dalglish hinted at Maxi's return, fit after missing the last few matches with a foot injury. Kuyt, Bellamy, and Downing are the other options, but Downing's utterly devoid of confidence and form, while Bellamy's pace can be crucial off the bench.
Other than giving Kelly some match time, replacing Johnson at right back, I can't see many alterations to Liverpool's watertight defense. Given the importance of cup runs and the time between fixtures, another match for the Carragher-Coates pairing seems less likely. Skrtel, Agger, and Enrique are definitively first choice. Carragher might make his club record-tying 210th cup appearance replacing Agger, who's always an injury worry, but that's about it.
Brighton are currently 9th in the Championship, just two points off a playoff place. The Seagulls are unbeaten in 2012, last losing at Coventry on New Year's Eve. Since then, they've won five and drawn two in the league – including an impressive 3-0 demolishment of then league-leaders Southampton – and have eked out wins over Newcastle and Wrexham (after a replay and penalties) in the FA Cup. Since we last spoke, Brighton have added Assulin and Razak on loan from Manchester City. Both are eligible to make their debuts on Sunday. The Seagulls have also loaned Joe Mattock and Gonzalo Jara from West Brom and Sam Vokes from Wolves. Poyet is likely to stick with his preferred 4-3-3, with three from Barnes, Buckley, Vokes, and Mackail-Smith leading the line.
Liverpool beat Brighton in the Carling Cup because of a strong first half, allowed to play with the Seagulls standing off, scoring a crucial early goal before Kuyt's game-sealing second on the counter with ten minutes to play. Noone and Buckley both caused problems after the interval, but Brighton's change in tactics – pressing furiously in the second half – lessened the gap between the sides. I doubt Poyet will make the same mistake in this fixture. As in the last meeting, Liverpool will have to put its superiority in possession to use, likely to have more of the ball at Anfield than at the Amex. Converting some of the many chances created would also probably help.
Last four head-to-head:
2-1 Liverpool (a; League Cup) 09.21.11
2-3 Liverpool (a; FA Cup) 01.30.91
2-2 (h; FA Cup) 01.26.91
4-0 Liverpool (h; League Cup) 10.29.85
Previous rounds:
Liverpool: 2-1 United (h); 5-1 Oldham (h)
Brighton: 1-0 Newcastle (h); 1-1 Wrexham [5-4 pens] (a); 1-1 Wrexham (h)
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 1-2 United (a); 3-0 Wolves (a); 0-0 Spurs (h)
Brighton: 2-2 Millwall (h); 2-1 Leeds (a); 1-0 Leiceister (h)
Goalscorers (all competitions):
Liverpool: Bellamy, Suarez 9; Carroll, Gerrard 5; Maxi 4; Kuyt 3; Adam, Skrtel 2; Agger, Downing, Henderson, Johnson, Kelly, Shelvey 1
Brighton: Barnes 9; Mackail-Smith 8; Buckley 7; Caskey, Harley, Noone, Sparrow 2; Calderon, Greer, Hoskins, Lua Lua, Navarro, Vicente, Vincelot, Vokes 1
Referee: Andre Marriner
First time Marriner's done a Liverpool game since All The Evil started against United in October.
Guess at a line-up:
Reina
Kelly Skrtel Agger Enrique
Kuyt Spearing Gerrard Maxi
Carroll Suarez
Did everyone have a good week? I apologize for the radio silence since Saturday, but the weekend's shenanigans necessitated a small break from football. Recharging the batteries, repressing memories, etc. You know the routine. I don't appear to have missed much, thankfully.
As it's a cup tie, expect some changes, but I'd be exceptionally surprised if Liverpool don't deploy a mostly full-strength lineup. Dalglish has taken the cups very seriously so far, evidenced by Liverpool's progress in both. Plus, it's not as if these ties are sandwiched between league fixtures, as happened earlier in the campaign. There have been eight days since the last match, and there will be seven days until the next – which happens to be the Carling Cup final.
Now back from suspension, will we see Suarez reform his strike partnership with Carroll? Or will Liverpool stick with the 4-2-3-1/4-2-1-3/4-1-4-1 whatever it's 4-5-1 formation we've seen in the last five matches? Or will Dalglish keep Suarez in reserve, because it's a cup tie or because of last week's antics?
Not only do I expect Liverpool to keep faith with Suarez (even if he may not deserve it), but also a return to the 4-4-2. The 4-5-1 formation(s) has worked well for Liverpool over the last five matches, but when both Suarez and Carroll started prior to the former's suspension, it was usually in the 4-4-2. At home against Brighton, Liverpool have more license to test that formation than, say, away against Manchester United. Suarez playing wider, with Kuyt, Bellamy, or Downing on the other side of Carroll, remains a possibility, but the Uruguayan's almost always played as an out-and-out striker over the last year.
If Liverpool do play 4-4-2, Spearing and Gerrard seemingly have to be the midfield pairing. Spearing's defensive capabilities are often essential, while Gerrard rightfully remains the first-choice midfielder. Adam's started more matches than all but Reina and Enrique, but the less said about the Gerrard-Adam midfield pairing the better. As usual, questions linger over who plays on the flanks. Dalglish hinted at Maxi's return, fit after missing the last few matches with a foot injury. Kuyt, Bellamy, and Downing are the other options, but Downing's utterly devoid of confidence and form, while Bellamy's pace can be crucial off the bench.
Other than giving Kelly some match time, replacing Johnson at right back, I can't see many alterations to Liverpool's watertight defense. Given the importance of cup runs and the time between fixtures, another match for the Carragher-Coates pairing seems less likely. Skrtel, Agger, and Enrique are definitively first choice. Carragher might make his club record-tying 210th cup appearance replacing Agger, who's always an injury worry, but that's about it.
Brighton are currently 9th in the Championship, just two points off a playoff place. The Seagulls are unbeaten in 2012, last losing at Coventry on New Year's Eve. Since then, they've won five and drawn two in the league – including an impressive 3-0 demolishment of then league-leaders Southampton – and have eked out wins over Newcastle and Wrexham (after a replay and penalties) in the FA Cup. Since we last spoke, Brighton have added Assulin and Razak on loan from Manchester City. Both are eligible to make their debuts on Sunday. The Seagulls have also loaned Joe Mattock and Gonzalo Jara from West Brom and Sam Vokes from Wolves. Poyet is likely to stick with his preferred 4-3-3, with three from Barnes, Buckley, Vokes, and Mackail-Smith leading the line.
Liverpool beat Brighton in the Carling Cup because of a strong first half, allowed to play with the Seagulls standing off, scoring a crucial early goal before Kuyt's game-sealing second on the counter with ten minutes to play. Noone and Buckley both caused problems after the interval, but Brighton's change in tactics – pressing furiously in the second half – lessened the gap between the sides. I doubt Poyet will make the same mistake in this fixture. As in the last meeting, Liverpool will have to put its superiority in possession to use, likely to have more of the ball at Anfield than at the Amex. Converting some of the many chances created would also probably help.
11 February 2012
Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United
Goals:
Rooney 47' 50'
Suarez 80'
The worst possible result. Not just a loss, a deserved loss – self-inflicted thanks to a feeble 30 minutes after the restart – but continued, probably increased, focus on the Suarez-Evra contretemps thanks to each acting like spoiled children. Fantastic. Just what everyone wants and needs.
Handshakes – irrelevant, archaic, unnecessary damned handshakes – set the tone. As a Liverpool fan, I'm constitutionally obligated to mention that it's slightly (and slightly is all I'll countenance, even when I'm straining this hard to present both sides) understandable that one might not want to shake another's hand when he thinks the latter is a liar who got him unfairly suspended. But Suarez ignoring Evra's hand was childish, Evra then making a scene by grabbing Suarez's arm was childish, and Ferdinand then snubbing Suarez was childish. It both foreshadowed forthcoming scenes and reinvigorated the media's delight in this narrative. Exactly what this match, Liverpool, and football in general didn't need.
As an aside, Phil Dowd did a masterful job today. Only two players saw yellow, Downing and Carrick, both deserved for tackles that halted attacks. At least where it relates to the actual football, the game was fairly tame and fairly played compared to this match's usual fire and brimstone. It's just beyond a pity we can't say the same about non-football idiocy.
Otherwise, there was little to write home about in the first half. Johnson had a couple of early chances, both with his left foot after cutting inside – the first tamely saved, the second pulled narrowly wide of the far post – but United increasingly controlled the game by controlling midfield. With Scholes as the fulcrum, United passed around Spearing, while Valencia was a constant threat down Liverpool's left. Gerrard had to play deeper and deeper to compensate, increasing Liverpool's disconnect in attack. Ferdinand and Evans marshaled Suarez with midfielders adding little to the attack; Kuyt at least did well tracking back, but Downing provided absolutely no benefit, looking less and less confident and more and more depressingly hapless with each step.
Still, United rarely looked like breaching Liverpool's back four. Valencia beat Enrique once, but Rafael's left-footed shot – like Liverpool, from a fullback getting forward – was too close to Reina. The best chance of the half came when Johnson couldn't close down Giggs' cross as Scholes lost Spearing, but the newly-unretired player headed straight at Reina from six yards. Other, Agger and Skrtel kept the dangerous Rooney and Welback under tight watch while the full-backs stayed solid.
Then came five minutes of madness to start the second half, United two-up before the 50th minute after Liverpool twice shot themselves in the foot. First, when marking a corner, Henderson jumped in front of the better-placed Gerrard, somehow perfectly flicking-on for Rooney to smartly volley from close range. Less than three minutes later, Spearing handed the ball off to Valencia after Enrique had stolen it back, allowing three United players to run at Skrtel. Valencia put Rooney through before Johnson could retreat, slotting past Reina for his brace.
Liverpool didn't look anywhere near scoring until a set play consolation in the 80th, after Dalglish had made all three changes. Confidence clearly circled the toilet, expected but still infuriating, as United olé'd passes around the pitch. The home side seemed far more likely to get the third, as Rooney toe-poked wide after a flowing move, Enrique crucially cut out a Giggs center, and Welbeck's curler from 12 yards out was fortunately deflected to Reina.
Carroll and Bellamy replacing Spearing and Downing, by far Liverpool's two worst performers, added some semblance of coherence, but it wasn't until Adam came on for Kuyt that Liverpool created its first clear-cut chance since Johnson's early efforts. Yes, it was from a set play, won by Suarez, converted by Suarez, and partly due to a Ferdinand error. And had Adam started – today was the first league match he hadn't started – Liverpool might have been even more open in midfield. It's hard to imagine that's possible, but still. Regardless, Charlie Adam creates chances. No matter Liverpool's horrific conversion rate, chances are still somewhat necessary.
Liverpool had a couple of door-slightly-ajar opportunities for an unlikely equalizer, but Suarez's blast from Carroll's knockdown unfortunately deflected off the #9, De Gea tipped Johnson's straight-arrow cannon over the crossbar, and Suarez nearly got on the end of an Adam chip deep in injury time, but could only head over from an offside position. Rendering his earlier goal a consolation and this one of the more depressing losses of the season.
Finally, finishing as we started, Evra's wild, World Cup celebrations after the whistle continued into a dance directly in front of Suarez, which led to yet another half-baked scrum. Again, Dowd attempted to quickly and sensibly pulled the Frenchman away, but damage was done, the narrative further reinforced. This isn't about football anymore, to everyone's detriment.
The feared, unnecessary off-field nonsense will partially obscure Liverpool's poor play, especially those 30-35 minutes after the interval. Henderson replacing Adam seemed a good idea prior to the match, fitter and full of running and better able to counter quickly. Downing instead of Bellamy was more a matter of faith than evidence, but keeping Bellamy's pace in reserve made some sense. Neither gambit worked, nor did the hope that Spearing could hold the middle in place of Lucas. True, this is the first match where he's looked wholly out of depth, but he still looked wholly out of depth. Agger and Skrtel were Agger and Skrtel, Reina could do little about the goals, Johnson and Enrique played well (the latter after a shaky first 10-15 minutes), and Gerrard was restrained having to compensate for his midfield partners. Liverpool did manage something of a fight back, eventually. Those are the on-field positives. All of them.
But, as much as I'd rather not, we have to mention the off-field. For the first time, Suarez's petulant irascibility out-weighted the benefits he brings to the team. And yes, I still say 'for the first time' knowing he just served a ban for what he called Evra in the reserve fixture. And being well aware he scored Liverpool's lone goal. The narrative goes away with a handshake. In theory, the furor dies with a handshake. No handshake sets the tone for Evra's response, Ferdinand's response, a half-time brouhaha, and Evra's taunting, inciting post-match celebrations. All of which will be examined in nanometer detail over the next week. So easily avoided.
Yes, the handshake was incidental to this result, a game Liverpool didn't deserve to win. Which isn't wholly unexpected given previous results on this ground. But now Liverpool as a club will be raked over the coals, drowned in the mud, yet again. And that's unforgivably worse than any loss.
Rooney 47' 50'
Suarez 80'
The worst possible result. Not just a loss, a deserved loss – self-inflicted thanks to a feeble 30 minutes after the restart – but continued, probably increased, focus on the Suarez-Evra contretemps thanks to each acting like spoiled children. Fantastic. Just what everyone wants and needs.
Handshakes – irrelevant, archaic, unnecessary damned handshakes – set the tone. As a Liverpool fan, I'm constitutionally obligated to mention that it's slightly (and slightly is all I'll countenance, even when I'm straining this hard to present both sides) understandable that one might not want to shake another's hand when he thinks the latter is a liar who got him unfairly suspended. But Suarez ignoring Evra's hand was childish, Evra then making a scene by grabbing Suarez's arm was childish, and Ferdinand then snubbing Suarez was childish. It both foreshadowed forthcoming scenes and reinvigorated the media's delight in this narrative. Exactly what this match, Liverpool, and football in general didn't need.
As an aside, Phil Dowd did a masterful job today. Only two players saw yellow, Downing and Carrick, both deserved for tackles that halted attacks. At least where it relates to the actual football, the game was fairly tame and fairly played compared to this match's usual fire and brimstone. It's just beyond a pity we can't say the same about non-football idiocy.
Otherwise, there was little to write home about in the first half. Johnson had a couple of early chances, both with his left foot after cutting inside – the first tamely saved, the second pulled narrowly wide of the far post – but United increasingly controlled the game by controlling midfield. With Scholes as the fulcrum, United passed around Spearing, while Valencia was a constant threat down Liverpool's left. Gerrard had to play deeper and deeper to compensate, increasing Liverpool's disconnect in attack. Ferdinand and Evans marshaled Suarez with midfielders adding little to the attack; Kuyt at least did well tracking back, but Downing provided absolutely no benefit, looking less and less confident and more and more depressingly hapless with each step.
Still, United rarely looked like breaching Liverpool's back four. Valencia beat Enrique once, but Rafael's left-footed shot – like Liverpool, from a fullback getting forward – was too close to Reina. The best chance of the half came when Johnson couldn't close down Giggs' cross as Scholes lost Spearing, but the newly-unretired player headed straight at Reina from six yards. Other, Agger and Skrtel kept the dangerous Rooney and Welback under tight watch while the full-backs stayed solid.
Then came five minutes of madness to start the second half, United two-up before the 50th minute after Liverpool twice shot themselves in the foot. First, when marking a corner, Henderson jumped in front of the better-placed Gerrard, somehow perfectly flicking-on for Rooney to smartly volley from close range. Less than three minutes later, Spearing handed the ball off to Valencia after Enrique had stolen it back, allowing three United players to run at Skrtel. Valencia put Rooney through before Johnson could retreat, slotting past Reina for his brace.
Liverpool didn't look anywhere near scoring until a set play consolation in the 80th, after Dalglish had made all three changes. Confidence clearly circled the toilet, expected but still infuriating, as United olé'd passes around the pitch. The home side seemed far more likely to get the third, as Rooney toe-poked wide after a flowing move, Enrique crucially cut out a Giggs center, and Welbeck's curler from 12 yards out was fortunately deflected to Reina.
Carroll and Bellamy replacing Spearing and Downing, by far Liverpool's two worst performers, added some semblance of coherence, but it wasn't until Adam came on for Kuyt that Liverpool created its first clear-cut chance since Johnson's early efforts. Yes, it was from a set play, won by Suarez, converted by Suarez, and partly due to a Ferdinand error. And had Adam started – today was the first league match he hadn't started – Liverpool might have been even more open in midfield. It's hard to imagine that's possible, but still. Regardless, Charlie Adam creates chances. No matter Liverpool's horrific conversion rate, chances are still somewhat necessary.
Liverpool had a couple of door-slightly-ajar opportunities for an unlikely equalizer, but Suarez's blast from Carroll's knockdown unfortunately deflected off the #9, De Gea tipped Johnson's straight-arrow cannon over the crossbar, and Suarez nearly got on the end of an Adam chip deep in injury time, but could only head over from an offside position. Rendering his earlier goal a consolation and this one of the more depressing losses of the season.
Finally, finishing as we started, Evra's wild, World Cup celebrations after the whistle continued into a dance directly in front of Suarez, which led to yet another half-baked scrum. Again, Dowd attempted to quickly and sensibly pulled the Frenchman away, but damage was done, the narrative further reinforced. This isn't about football anymore, to everyone's detriment.
The feared, unnecessary off-field nonsense will partially obscure Liverpool's poor play, especially those 30-35 minutes after the interval. Henderson replacing Adam seemed a good idea prior to the match, fitter and full of running and better able to counter quickly. Downing instead of Bellamy was more a matter of faith than evidence, but keeping Bellamy's pace in reserve made some sense. Neither gambit worked, nor did the hope that Spearing could hold the middle in place of Lucas. True, this is the first match where he's looked wholly out of depth, but he still looked wholly out of depth. Agger and Skrtel were Agger and Skrtel, Reina could do little about the goals, Johnson and Enrique played well (the latter after a shaky first 10-15 minutes), and Gerrard was restrained having to compensate for his midfield partners. Liverpool did manage something of a fight back, eventually. Those are the on-field positives. All of them.
But, as much as I'd rather not, we have to mention the off-field. For the first time, Suarez's petulant irascibility out-weighted the benefits he brings to the team. And yes, I still say 'for the first time' knowing he just served a ban for what he called Evra in the reserve fixture. And being well aware he scored Liverpool's lone goal. The narrative goes away with a handshake. In theory, the furor dies with a handshake. No handshake sets the tone for Evra's response, Ferdinand's response, a half-time brouhaha, and Evra's taunting, inciting post-match celebrations. All of which will be examined in nanometer detail over the next week. So easily avoided.
Yes, the handshake was incidental to this result, a game Liverpool didn't deserve to win. Which isn't wholly unexpected given previous results on this ground. But now Liverpool as a club will be raked over the coals, drowned in the mud, yet again. And that's unforgivably worse than any loss.
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