10am ET, live in the US on NBC Sports Live Extra
Last four head-to-head:
1-3 Hull (a) 12.01.13
0-0 (a) 05.09.10
6-1 Liverpool (h) 09.26.09
3-1 Liverpool (a) 04.25.09
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 1-2 Chelsea (a); 1-2 City (a); 3-1 Cardiff (h)
Hull: 6-0 Fulham (h); 2-3 United (h); 1-1 West Brom (a)
Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Suarez 19; Sturridge 9; Gerrard, Sterling 3; Coutinho, Skrtel 2; Flanagan, Henderson, Moses, Sakho 1
Hull: Brady 3; Elmohamady, Koren, Livermore, Meyler, Sagbo 2; Aluko, Boyd, Chester, Davies, Fryatt, Graham, Huddlestone 1
Referee: Craig Pawson
Pawson became a Select Group referee this season. He's never done a Liverpool match before.
Guess at a line-up:
Mignolet
Johnson Toure Agger Cissokho
Henderson Lucas
Sterling Coutinho L Alberto
Suarez
So, who's left standing?
We can add Sakho and Allen to the already-too-extensive casualty list, joining Sturridge, Enrique, Flanagan, and maybe Gerrard. Now is the winter of my discontent. And Zaf Iqbal's by the looks of things. There's no rest for the weary.
But, yes, "maybe" Gerrard. He's been training this week, and his return would be incredibly timely given Allen's injury. But I still doubt Rodgers will bring him straight back into the lineup unless he and the medical staff felt certain there was almost no chance of reaggravation.
So that probably means Lucas and Henderson in midfield, with Coutinho playing ahead of them in his preferred #10 role. Sterling and Suarez will almost certainly take up two of the three attacking roles; I hoped we've learned enough from the Victor Moses experiment, especially given what we learned the last time these two sides met, allowing Luis Alberto to make his first Premiership start instead. There's also a small chance that Aspas could feature, either reverting to the 4-2-2-2 formation seen when both Suarez and Sturridge were available, or with Aspas on the right and Sterling on the left.
In addition to the aforementioned injuries, it'd be nice to give either Skrtel or Johnson a break. And by "break" I mean "make them go sit in the corner and think about what they've done over the last few matches." But thanks to those aforementioned injuries, sitting both of them doesn't seem an option. Johnson is the only right back available, as it doesn't appear that Martin Kelly counts anymore, so he pretty much has to play. However, there's a readymade replacement for Skrtel in Kolo Toure. Please use that readymade replacement. Did I mention that Liverpool haven't conceded a single goal when Toure and Agger were the center-back partnership, which happened in the first two matches of the season? I should probably mention that.
Hull, on the other hand, have an almost full squad to choose from. Robbie Brady's still struggling with a groin problem, Aluko's probably out for another month with a calf injury, but that's about it.
As has become usual this season, Steve Bruce seemingly has two options. Option A: the same system which frustrated Liverpool a month ago, using five at the back. Option B: keeping the faith with the 4-2-3-1 formation and XI which saw Hull put six past Fulham on Saturday. Option A would most likely be McGregor; Elmohamady, Chester, Davies, Figueroa, Boyd; Livermore, Huddlestone, Meyler; Koren, Sagbo. Maybe Figueroa at left wing-back, with Bruce as center-back. Option B would see either Meyler or Koren dropped for Rosenior, ostensibly coming in at right back, with Elmohamady and Boyd playing much further up the pitch.
I'd be very surprised if Bruce went with Option B, no matter the temptation to stick with a winning side. Hull have almost always lined up with three at the back against the top teams in the division, and that formation worked near-flawlessly against Liverpool last month.
Liverpool started December against Hull, and incurred a 1-3 loss in pathetic fashion. Liverpool now start 2014 against the same opposition, but this time at Anfield, needing to make amends for the horrific performance 31 days ago, and needing to put the last two matches as far from memory as possible.
It's a new year, after all.
31 December 2013
30 December 2013
Visualized: Liverpool 1-2 Chelsea
Previous Match Infographics: Manchester City (a), Cardiff (h), Tottenham (a), West Ham (h), Norwich (h), Hull City (a), Everton (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), West Brom (h), Newcastle (a), Crystal Palace (h), Sunderland (a), Southampton (h), Swansea (a), Manchester United (h), Aston Villa (a), Stoke (h)
As always, match data from Stats Zone and Squawka.
Yesterday was the day where Liverpool finally ran out of gas. It'd been coming.
Liverpool completed and attempted fewer passes than expected, took fewer shots than expected, had less possession than expected, even considering the opposition and venue. But of course, the same 10 players started the last three matches over eight days – the only changes coming at left-back – with Gerrard, Sturridge, Enrique, and Flanagan all unavailable through injuries picked up over the last month.
Even Suarez was susceptible – okay, maybe he's not a cyborg (*sigh*) – taking just two shots (tied for his low in a match this season, against Crystal Palace, where he also scored) and creating just two chances (he created none against Sunderland, his first match back, but scored twice).
But the midfield seemed most vulnerable. Liverpool couldn't stem the tide as Chelsea responded to the opening goal, unable to get a foot on the ball, with Chelsea attempted and completed twice as many passes as Liverpool between the first and second goals.
Liverpool completed just eight passes in Chelsea's half during that 14 minute spell. Eight. And just two in the attacking third, both on the edge of the attacking third. In full flow, Chelsea are a very good side (even if Mourinho rarely releases those shackles), but they played through Liverpool with ease during the first half, attacking midfielders dicing through the center of pitch, prancing past all three of Liverpool's midfielders on both goals.
Well, that'd help explain it.
Liverpool completed just 49 passes in the attacking third, attempting just 80, the lowest since Rodgers became manager.
Liverpool were better in the second half, but not better enough.
The only match where Liverpool came close to that low was last season's 2-2 draw at Arsenal, where Liverpool completed 54. Every other "bad" attacking third performance has seen Liverpool complete at least 60 attacking third passes, as in this season's matches at Swansea and Everton, both matches that Liverpool drew. And at least in last season's match at Arsenal, Liverpool were trying to protect a two-goal lead, with Arsenal only turning the screws after Liverpool scored the second in the 60th minute. Chelsea began turning the screws in the 4th minute yesterday, pushed back in the second half, but with Liverpool almost totally unable to threaten an equalizer.
Another facet that stood out was how many of Chelsea's tackles and interceptions took place in Liverpool's half. Seven of 12 interceptions and nine of 19 tackles. At their best, Liverpool are usually the side who presses the opposition, Suarez and the rest of the front six hassling players into mistakes, preventing them from setting the tenor or tempo. That simply wasn't possible yesterday, whether due to Chelsea's style or the aforementioned fatigue. And I'm tempted to place the blame on the latter.
Just two of Liverpool's 11 interceptions and nine of 29 tackles took place in Chelsea's half. Below is the average line for each side's defensive actions: tackles, both successful and unsuccessful, as well as interceptions.
Chelsea also recovered the ball higher up the pitch than Liverpool.
Mourinho's side did well to put Liverpool's fatigued midfielders and attackers under pressure, preventing them from creating the intricate moves which led to the goal against City (and nearly led to more). Liverpool were forced massively deeper than usual, and deeper than Chelsea played, a trait reinforced by each side's average player position.
Still, for all the condemnation, for all we're ruing injuries and the fixture list, losing at Chelsea (and City) shouldn't be wholly unexpected, no matter how high hopes have been raised. Only two top-7 teams have won on another top-7 team's ground so far this season: Liverpool, when thrashing 7th place Tottenham 5-0, and Everton, beating 6th place Manchester United 1-0.
Arsenal lost at City and United, drew at Everton. City lost at Chelsea, by the same scoreline as Liverpool. Chelsea drew at Arsenal and United, lost at Everton. Everton drew at Arsenal, lost at City. United drew at Tottenham, lost at City and Liverpool. Tottenham lost at City and Arsenal, drew at Everton.
None of those sides played more than three top-7 away games in the first half of the season; City only played one. Liverpool played five, winning at Tottenham, drawing at Everton, and losing at Arsenal, City, and Chelsea. Arsenal, City, Chelsea, Everton, and Tottenham all still have to come to Anfield.
After 19 games, Liverpool sit one point off the Champions League places, six off of top spot. This season's not over by a long shot.
As always, match data from Stats Zone and Squawka.
Yesterday was the day where Liverpool finally ran out of gas. It'd been coming.
Liverpool completed and attempted fewer passes than expected, took fewer shots than expected, had less possession than expected, even considering the opposition and venue. But of course, the same 10 players started the last three matches over eight days – the only changes coming at left-back – with Gerrard, Sturridge, Enrique, and Flanagan all unavailable through injuries picked up over the last month.
Even Suarez was susceptible – okay, maybe he's not a cyborg (*sigh*) – taking just two shots (tied for his low in a match this season, against Crystal Palace, where he also scored) and creating just two chances (he created none against Sunderland, his first match back, but scored twice).
But the midfield seemed most vulnerable. Liverpool couldn't stem the tide as Chelsea responded to the opening goal, unable to get a foot on the ball, with Chelsea attempted and completed twice as many passes as Liverpool between the first and second goals.
Liverpool completed just eight passes in Chelsea's half during that 14 minute spell. Eight. And just two in the attacking third, both on the edge of the attacking third. In full flow, Chelsea are a very good side (even if Mourinho rarely releases those shackles), but they played through Liverpool with ease during the first half, attacking midfielders dicing through the center of pitch, prancing past all three of Liverpool's midfielders on both goals.
"Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson probably played at 70 per cent, they were both injured. Joe had an injection to try to quash the pain in his abductor. Eventually when that wore off, it went really. We'll see how long that will be. We'll obviously assess Jordan as well."
Well, that'd help explain it.
Liverpool completed just 49 passes in the attacking third, attempting just 80, the lowest since Rodgers became manager.
Liverpool were better in the second half, but not better enough.
The only match where Liverpool came close to that low was last season's 2-2 draw at Arsenal, where Liverpool completed 54. Every other "bad" attacking third performance has seen Liverpool complete at least 60 attacking third passes, as in this season's matches at Swansea and Everton, both matches that Liverpool drew. And at least in last season's match at Arsenal, Liverpool were trying to protect a two-goal lead, with Arsenal only turning the screws after Liverpool scored the second in the 60th minute. Chelsea began turning the screws in the 4th minute yesterday, pushed back in the second half, but with Liverpool almost totally unable to threaten an equalizer.
Another facet that stood out was how many of Chelsea's tackles and interceptions took place in Liverpool's half. Seven of 12 interceptions and nine of 19 tackles. At their best, Liverpool are usually the side who presses the opposition, Suarez and the rest of the front six hassling players into mistakes, preventing them from setting the tenor or tempo. That simply wasn't possible yesterday, whether due to Chelsea's style or the aforementioned fatigue. And I'm tempted to place the blame on the latter.
Just two of Liverpool's 11 interceptions and nine of 29 tackles took place in Chelsea's half. Below is the average line for each side's defensive actions: tackles, both successful and unsuccessful, as well as interceptions.
Chelsea also recovered the ball higher up the pitch than Liverpool.
Mourinho's side did well to put Liverpool's fatigued midfielders and attackers under pressure, preventing them from creating the intricate moves which led to the goal against City (and nearly led to more). Liverpool were forced massively deeper than usual, and deeper than Chelsea played, a trait reinforced by each side's average player position.
Still, for all the condemnation, for all we're ruing injuries and the fixture list, losing at Chelsea (and City) shouldn't be wholly unexpected, no matter how high hopes have been raised. Only two top-7 teams have won on another top-7 team's ground so far this season: Liverpool, when thrashing 7th place Tottenham 5-0, and Everton, beating 6th place Manchester United 1-0.
Arsenal lost at City and United, drew at Everton. City lost at Chelsea, by the same scoreline as Liverpool. Chelsea drew at Arsenal and United, lost at Everton. Everton drew at Arsenal, lost at City. United drew at Tottenham, lost at City and Liverpool. Tottenham lost at City and Arsenal, drew at Everton.
None of those sides played more than three top-7 away games in the first half of the season; City only played one. Liverpool played five, winning at Tottenham, drawing at Everton, and losing at Arsenal, City, and Chelsea. Arsenal, City, Chelsea, Everton, and Tottenham all still have to come to Anfield.
After 19 games, Liverpool sit one point off the Champions League places, six off of top spot. This season's not over by a long shot.
29 December 2013
Liverpool 1-2 Chelsea
Goals:
Skrtel 4'
Hazard 17'
Eto'o 34'
That was familiar. Because it was a worse version of Thursday's match at Manchester City. Déjà vu all over again.
The last two matches have seen Liverpool ruthlessly punished for the small squad and injuries to crucial players. For the third consecutive fixture, all in the last eight days, Liverpool's only change came at left-back, with Agger replacing Cissokho. And Liverpool's midfield looked completely fatigued, the same players (read: Johnson, Skrtel, and, to a lesser extent, Mignolet) continued making mistakes, even Suarez showed signs of wear and tear. Chelsea have played more matches than Liverpool over the festive period, but their vastly deeper squad allowed for four changes from the last match – a nearly full-strength XI if not for Ramires' suspension – allowed for Chelsea to overcome an early injury to Ivanovic with no ill effects.
Early goals are usually good for Liverpool, the last two matches aside. But as stupid as it sounds, today's might have been too early. Skrtel's 4th minute goal raised hopes, capitalizing on Liverpool's first set play, as Suarez knocked down Coutinho's delivery and the Slovakian mopped up the rebound from close range, but Chelsea immediately penned Liverpool back.
Liverpool's midfield was immediately overrun as Chelsea dominated possession. It was obvious that the players suffered from the quick rebound from the last match, especially those in Liverpool's engine room, as Henderson, Allen, and Lucas could barely get a foot on the ball. Hazard and Willian provided constant threat from the flanks.
A minute after Liverpool's opener, Mignolet was called into action to deny Hazard, with Johnson needing to clear the rebound off the line. In the eighth minute, Cahill put a set play wide from the same position where Skrtel scored from. And in the 12th, Lampard's 30-yard rocket required a magnificent save from Mignolet. It looked like a matter of time before Chelsea leveled.
It was a matter of time. Another Chelsea break after Liverpool lost possession (Coutinho's attempted throughball to Suarez cut out), slicing and dicing passes through five static Liverpool players in the center circle. Oscar charges at Skrtel, Sakho makes the crucial interceptions, but the ball falls perfectly for Hazard, wonderfully curling a shot into the far corer from the top of the arc.
An equalizer provided little reprieve as Chelsea kept the foot on the gas. Liverpool nearly carved their way through Chelsea's defense for a second, Suarez, Henderson, and Allen combining beautifully after good work from Sterling and Johnson down the right, but Cahill's last ditch block prevented the Welshman from getting a shot off from eight yards out.
That was very much against the run of the play, though, and in the 34th minute, Chelsea took the lead. Again, Chelsea passed through Liverpool's midfield far too easily before finding Azpilicueta on the right, somehow finding space to cross around Agger. Oscar couldn't control, but the ricochet off Sakho somehow fell directly back to Oscar, dancing to byline before a pullback to Eto'o, who'd criminally gotten in front of Skrtel despite that literally being Oscar's only option. As against City, Mignolet really should have prevented the goal after getting a hand to the shot, but I just can't stop glaring at Skrtel for allowing the shot in the first place. Déjà vu all over again. And another goal set up because the ball bounced kindly for Chelsea. Damn you, football gods.
Liverpool's sole response before the interval again fell to Joe Allen in the box on the end of a good move, but this time, Cech saved the shot, with Suarez unable to collect the rebound. Unlike both of Chelsea's goals, this time, the ball bounced unkindly. Like against City, small margins and all that.
39.7% possession in the first half was the third-lowest in any half since Rodgers took over, behind just the second halves in this season's trip to Swansea and last season's trip to Arsenal, matches where Liverpool were trying to protect a result, any result. That's not good. In fact, it's the opposite of good.
Like against City, Liverpool started the second half the better side, finally taking the game to the opposition. And like against City, Liverpool had chances to equalize, chances that they should and could have taken: Sakho heading off the crossbar after a quick 52nd minute free kick, Suarez volleying straight at Cech in the 58th. a carbon copy of his opener against Cardiff except in the finish.
But by the 75th minute, those chances dried up. Like against City. And like against City, Liverpool simply didn't have the personnel to reclaim the edge. Allen's 60th minute injury required a shift in formation, bringing on 19-year-old Brad Smith for his debut, shifting to three at the back. The only other change made was bringing on Aspas for Johnson in the 84th, with Sterling going to wing-back, which was exactly as effective as it was against Manchester City. And like against City, the match ended not with a bang but a whimper. Fernando Torres, King of the Island of Misfit Toys, had the only chance of the last 10 minutes, a Chelsea break which ended with the striker (in name only) shooting straight at Mignolet after a dangerous run.
From first on Christmas Day to fifth to start the New Year. This month's fixtures have laid Liverpool's weaknesses wholly bare, from the utter failure at Hull to just-not-good-enough at both City and Chelsea, no matter the thrashing delivered to Tottenham and strolls past weaker sides at Anfield sandwiched in between. This is the first time that Liverpool have lost consecutive league matches under Rodgers.
Unlike against City, you can't say the loss wasn't deserved. Yes, Chelsea's goals had an element of fortune, yes, Liverpool had opportunities to equalize, but Chelsea were thoroughly the better side. Much of that was due to injuries combined with Liverpool's already small squad making it nigh impossible to rotate players during the festive period pile-up, some of it due to Liverpool and certain players making the same mistakes (especially in defense), less of it due to misfortune, and less of it due to some infuriating refereeing.
No matter. Liverpool are where they are, and that's in fifth, just the second time Liverpool have dropped out of the Champions League places this season, something that hasn't happened since the loss at Hull to start the month. It's been a long December.
Had you told me back in August that Liverpool would be a point off the Champions League places, six points off the top of the table, at the end of 2013, I'd have gladly taken it. That it's a massive disappointment now is an apt demonstration of just how far Liverpool has come over these last five months. This is most assuredly a set-back, but it doesn't seem a season-defining one. The 2013-14 campaign is exactly half over. Players will return from injury and Liverpool look likely to reinforce with at least one new player – and hopefully more – in the January transfer window.
It should get better. It can't be as hard, or as bad, as the last week has been. But Liverpool still have a long way to go before this season is anywhere near successful.
Skrtel 4'
Hazard 17'
Eto'o 34'
That was familiar. Because it was a worse version of Thursday's match at Manchester City. Déjà vu all over again.
The last two matches have seen Liverpool ruthlessly punished for the small squad and injuries to crucial players. For the third consecutive fixture, all in the last eight days, Liverpool's only change came at left-back, with Agger replacing Cissokho. And Liverpool's midfield looked completely fatigued, the same players (read: Johnson, Skrtel, and, to a lesser extent, Mignolet) continued making mistakes, even Suarez showed signs of wear and tear. Chelsea have played more matches than Liverpool over the festive period, but their vastly deeper squad allowed for four changes from the last match – a nearly full-strength XI if not for Ramires' suspension – allowed for Chelsea to overcome an early injury to Ivanovic with no ill effects.
Early goals are usually good for Liverpool, the last two matches aside. But as stupid as it sounds, today's might have been too early. Skrtel's 4th minute goal raised hopes, capitalizing on Liverpool's first set play, as Suarez knocked down Coutinho's delivery and the Slovakian mopped up the rebound from close range, but Chelsea immediately penned Liverpool back.
Liverpool's midfield was immediately overrun as Chelsea dominated possession. It was obvious that the players suffered from the quick rebound from the last match, especially those in Liverpool's engine room, as Henderson, Allen, and Lucas could barely get a foot on the ball. Hazard and Willian provided constant threat from the flanks.
A minute after Liverpool's opener, Mignolet was called into action to deny Hazard, with Johnson needing to clear the rebound off the line. In the eighth minute, Cahill put a set play wide from the same position where Skrtel scored from. And in the 12th, Lampard's 30-yard rocket required a magnificent save from Mignolet. It looked like a matter of time before Chelsea leveled.
It was a matter of time. Another Chelsea break after Liverpool lost possession (Coutinho's attempted throughball to Suarez cut out), slicing and dicing passes through five static Liverpool players in the center circle. Oscar charges at Skrtel, Sakho makes the crucial interceptions, but the ball falls perfectly for Hazard, wonderfully curling a shot into the far corer from the top of the arc.
An equalizer provided little reprieve as Chelsea kept the foot on the gas. Liverpool nearly carved their way through Chelsea's defense for a second, Suarez, Henderson, and Allen combining beautifully after good work from Sterling and Johnson down the right, but Cahill's last ditch block prevented the Welshman from getting a shot off from eight yards out.
That was very much against the run of the play, though, and in the 34th minute, Chelsea took the lead. Again, Chelsea passed through Liverpool's midfield far too easily before finding Azpilicueta on the right, somehow finding space to cross around Agger. Oscar couldn't control, but the ricochet off Sakho somehow fell directly back to Oscar, dancing to byline before a pullback to Eto'o, who'd criminally gotten in front of Skrtel despite that literally being Oscar's only option. As against City, Mignolet really should have prevented the goal after getting a hand to the shot, but I just can't stop glaring at Skrtel for allowing the shot in the first place. Déjà vu all over again. And another goal set up because the ball bounced kindly for Chelsea. Damn you, football gods.
Liverpool's sole response before the interval again fell to Joe Allen in the box on the end of a good move, but this time, Cech saved the shot, with Suarez unable to collect the rebound. Unlike both of Chelsea's goals, this time, the ball bounced unkindly. Like against City, small margins and all that.
39.7% possession in the first half was the third-lowest in any half since Rodgers took over, behind just the second halves in this season's trip to Swansea and last season's trip to Arsenal, matches where Liverpool were trying to protect a result, any result. That's not good. In fact, it's the opposite of good.
Like against City, Liverpool started the second half the better side, finally taking the game to the opposition. And like against City, Liverpool had chances to equalize, chances that they should and could have taken: Sakho heading off the crossbar after a quick 52nd minute free kick, Suarez volleying straight at Cech in the 58th. a carbon copy of his opener against Cardiff except in the finish.
But by the 75th minute, those chances dried up. Like against City. And like against City, Liverpool simply didn't have the personnel to reclaim the edge. Allen's 60th minute injury required a shift in formation, bringing on 19-year-old Brad Smith for his debut, shifting to three at the back. The only other change made was bringing on Aspas for Johnson in the 84th, with Sterling going to wing-back, which was exactly as effective as it was against Manchester City. And like against City, the match ended not with a bang but a whimper. Fernando Torres, King of the Island of Misfit Toys, had the only chance of the last 10 minutes, a Chelsea break which ended with the striker (in name only) shooting straight at Mignolet after a dangerous run.
From first on Christmas Day to fifth to start the New Year. This month's fixtures have laid Liverpool's weaknesses wholly bare, from the utter failure at Hull to just-not-good-enough at both City and Chelsea, no matter the thrashing delivered to Tottenham and strolls past weaker sides at Anfield sandwiched in between. This is the first time that Liverpool have lost consecutive league matches under Rodgers.
Unlike against City, you can't say the loss wasn't deserved. Yes, Chelsea's goals had an element of fortune, yes, Liverpool had opportunities to equalize, but Chelsea were thoroughly the better side. Much of that was due to injuries combined with Liverpool's already small squad making it nigh impossible to rotate players during the festive period pile-up, some of it due to Liverpool and certain players making the same mistakes (especially in defense), less of it due to misfortune, and less of it due to some infuriating refereeing.
No matter. Liverpool are where they are, and that's in fifth, just the second time Liverpool have dropped out of the Champions League places this season, something that hasn't happened since the loss at Hull to start the month. It's been a long December.
Had you told me back in August that Liverpool would be a point off the Champions League places, six points off the top of the table, at the end of 2013, I'd have gladly taken it. That it's a massive disappointment now is an apt demonstration of just how far Liverpool has come over these last five months. This is most assuredly a set-back, but it doesn't seem a season-defining one. The 2013-14 campaign is exactly half over. Players will return from injury and Liverpool look likely to reinforce with at least one new player – and hopefully more – in the January transfer window.
It should get better. It can't be as hard, or as bad, as the last week has been. But Liverpool still have a long way to go before this season is anywhere near successful.
28 December 2013
Liverpool at Chelsea 12.29.13
11am ET, live in the US on NBC Sports
Last four head-to-head:
2-2 (h) 02.03.13
1-1 (a) 08.26.12
4-1 Liverpool (h) 05.08.12
1-2 Chelsea (n; FA Cup) 05.05.12
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 1-2 City (a); 3-1 Cardiff (h); 5-0 Tottenham (a)
Chelsea: 1-0 Swansea (h); 0-0 Arsenal (a); 1-2 Sunderland aet (a)
Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Suarez 19; Sturridge 9; Gerrard, Sterling 3; Coutinho 2; Flanagan, Henderson, Moses, Sakho, Skrtel 1
Chelsea: Hazard 7; Oscar 5; Lampard 4; Schürrle 3; Eto'o, Terry, Torres 2; Ba, Cahill, Ivanovic, Mikel, Ramires, Willian 1
Referee: Howard Webb
Guess at a line-up:
Mignolet
Johnson Skrtel Sakho Cissokho
Lucas
Henderson Allen
Sterling Suarez Coutinho
This'll be Liverpool's third match in eight days, tomorrow's coming just three days after the last. There will be another, against Hull on New Year's Day, just three days after that. You'd think Liverpool's XI would see a fair amount of rotation.
You'd probably be wrong. Because Liverpool don't really have players to rotate.
That Moses and Aspas were the players chosen when chasing the game against Manchester City demonstrates just how tied Rodgers' hands are. And Moses can't play tomorrow because of his loan agreement. Coutinho, removed in the 68th minute on Thursday, looked especially fatigued, but Liverpool simply don't have many other options in the front six.
The one area where Liverpool could rotate is at center-back. At City, Skrtel did bad Skrtel things, Sakho also looked fatigued, Liverpool conceded two goals they probably shouldn't have conceded. Skrtel and Sakho have started the last four fixtures. Toure could come in for Skrtel, Agger for Sakho. The reverse probably won't happen though. The Toure/Skrtel combination was abhorrent against Hull; Rodgers has refused to use Sakho and Agger together in a center-back partnership, and I doubt he'll start at Chelsea.
And Jon Flanagan will still be injured, limiting Liverpool's choices at fullback. I've absolutely zero clue what Martin Kelly's deal is. If the options are Cissokho again or a center-back at left-back, I'm going with the center-back, especially if that center-back is Agger, the reverse of what Rodgers chose against Southampton. But that's assuming Kelly is still unavailable, and Rodgers won't replace Sakho with Agger. And, to be honest, Cissokho again seems a lot more likely.
Mourinho, on the other hand, will almost assuredly rotate his squad, at least more than Liverpool will. Because Mourinho has a much bigger squad than Liverpool. Cech will obviously start in goal. There are three choices for two spots at full-back – Ivanovic, Azpilicueta, and Cole – and three choices for two spots at center-back – Luiz, Terry, and Cahill. Midfield is the one area where Chelsea are limited for options: Ramires' suspension coupled with van Ginkel's season-long injury means that Lampard and Mikel are almost certain to start. Chelsea have the most options in the attacking line of three, but Hazard and Oscar almost always start the big matches, meaning that Mourinho will probably choose from Willian and Schürrle to take the third spot. And Chelsea have three options up front, but none have really stood out; Torres is probably the most likely, facing his former club, as Eto'o again failed to impress in the last match against Swansea and Demba Ba is very much the third choice.
Chelsea have been very Mourinho this season, if slightly less impressively Mourinho than expected upon the "Special One's" return. Jose's still unbeaten in the league at Stamford Bridge, if only because of a wholly undeserved injury time penalty last month. Despite the big name attackers, Chelsea have struggled in front of goals; they've chance creators galore with Hazard, Oscar, Mata, Schürrle, Willian, and De Bruyne (only City, Liverpool, and Spurs have created more), but the strikers haven't been able to take those chances. Regardless, any and all of those attacking midfielders are threatening on counter-attacks, and Liverpool's second goal conceded against Manchester City most assuredly demonstrated Liverpool's vulnerability on counters. And, as always, Mourinho's side remains one of the toughest to score on. Only Everton have conceded fewer goals than Chelsea – 17 to Chelsea's 18 (Arsenal and Southampton have also conceded 18).
Last season, these sides drew both meetings: 1-1 at Stamford Bridge, 2-2 at Anfield. But Liverpool drew both of last season's meetings with their last opponent, and subsequently lost 1-2 to Manchester City on Thursday. Also, Chelsea scored on a set play in both of last season's meetings as well. Maybe that's not comforting precedent. Let's try this again.
Liverpool haven't lost a league match to Chelsea since May 2010, Benitez's last season, a 0-2 home loss where Liverpool, at best, simply went through the motions and, at worst, allowed Chelsea to win to prevent United winning the title.
Even in 2010-11 or 2011-12, when Liverpool was clearly an inferior side, they performed to maximum capacity against this opponent. Tomorrow, clinging to a top four spot, Liverpool have even more to play for. We'll need to see Liverpool at maximum capacity, the lack of rest or rotation be damned, to pick up the needed one point tomorrow, let alone all three.
Last four head-to-head:
2-2 (h) 02.03.13
1-1 (a) 08.26.12
4-1 Liverpool (h) 05.08.12
1-2 Chelsea (n; FA Cup) 05.05.12
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 1-2 City (a); 3-1 Cardiff (h); 5-0 Tottenham (a)
Chelsea: 1-0 Swansea (h); 0-0 Arsenal (a); 1-2 Sunderland aet (a)
Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Suarez 19; Sturridge 9; Gerrard, Sterling 3; Coutinho 2; Flanagan, Henderson, Moses, Sakho, Skrtel 1
Chelsea: Hazard 7; Oscar 5; Lampard 4; Schürrle 3; Eto'o, Terry, Torres 2; Ba, Cahill, Ivanovic, Mikel, Ramires, Willian 1
Referee: Howard Webb
Guess at a line-up:
Mignolet
Johnson Skrtel Sakho Cissokho
Lucas
Henderson Allen
Sterling Suarez Coutinho
This'll be Liverpool's third match in eight days, tomorrow's coming just three days after the last. There will be another, against Hull on New Year's Day, just three days after that. You'd think Liverpool's XI would see a fair amount of rotation.
You'd probably be wrong. Because Liverpool don't really have players to rotate.
That Moses and Aspas were the players chosen when chasing the game against Manchester City demonstrates just how tied Rodgers' hands are. And Moses can't play tomorrow because of his loan agreement. Coutinho, removed in the 68th minute on Thursday, looked especially fatigued, but Liverpool simply don't have many other options in the front six.
The one area where Liverpool could rotate is at center-back. At City, Skrtel did bad Skrtel things, Sakho also looked fatigued, Liverpool conceded two goals they probably shouldn't have conceded. Skrtel and Sakho have started the last four fixtures. Toure could come in for Skrtel, Agger for Sakho. The reverse probably won't happen though. The Toure/Skrtel combination was abhorrent against Hull; Rodgers has refused to use Sakho and Agger together in a center-back partnership, and I doubt he'll start at Chelsea.
And Jon Flanagan will still be injured, limiting Liverpool's choices at fullback. I've absolutely zero clue what Martin Kelly's deal is. If the options are Cissokho again or a center-back at left-back, I'm going with the center-back, especially if that center-back is Agger, the reverse of what Rodgers chose against Southampton. But that's assuming Kelly is still unavailable, and Rodgers won't replace Sakho with Agger. And, to be honest, Cissokho again seems a lot more likely.
Mourinho, on the other hand, will almost assuredly rotate his squad, at least more than Liverpool will. Because Mourinho has a much bigger squad than Liverpool. Cech will obviously start in goal. There are three choices for two spots at full-back – Ivanovic, Azpilicueta, and Cole – and three choices for two spots at center-back – Luiz, Terry, and Cahill. Midfield is the one area where Chelsea are limited for options: Ramires' suspension coupled with van Ginkel's season-long injury means that Lampard and Mikel are almost certain to start. Chelsea have the most options in the attacking line of three, but Hazard and Oscar almost always start the big matches, meaning that Mourinho will probably choose from Willian and Schürrle to take the third spot. And Chelsea have three options up front, but none have really stood out; Torres is probably the most likely, facing his former club, as Eto'o again failed to impress in the last match against Swansea and Demba Ba is very much the third choice.
Chelsea have been very Mourinho this season, if slightly less impressively Mourinho than expected upon the "Special One's" return. Jose's still unbeaten in the league at Stamford Bridge, if only because of a wholly undeserved injury time penalty last month. Despite the big name attackers, Chelsea have struggled in front of goals; they've chance creators galore with Hazard, Oscar, Mata, Schürrle, Willian, and De Bruyne (only City, Liverpool, and Spurs have created more), but the strikers haven't been able to take those chances. Regardless, any and all of those attacking midfielders are threatening on counter-attacks, and Liverpool's second goal conceded against Manchester City most assuredly demonstrated Liverpool's vulnerability on counters. And, as always, Mourinho's side remains one of the toughest to score on. Only Everton have conceded fewer goals than Chelsea – 17 to Chelsea's 18 (Arsenal and Southampton have also conceded 18).
Last season, these sides drew both meetings: 1-1 at Stamford Bridge, 2-2 at Anfield. But Liverpool drew both of last season's meetings with their last opponent, and subsequently lost 1-2 to Manchester City on Thursday. Also, Chelsea scored on a set play in both of last season's meetings as well. Maybe that's not comforting precedent. Let's try this again.
Liverpool haven't lost a league match to Chelsea since May 2010, Benitez's last season, a 0-2 home loss where Liverpool, at best, simply went through the motions and, at worst, allowed Chelsea to win to prevent United winning the title.
Even in 2010-11 or 2011-12, when Liverpool was clearly an inferior side, they performed to maximum capacity against this opponent. Tomorrow, clinging to a top four spot, Liverpool have even more to play for. We'll need to see Liverpool at maximum capacity, the lack of rest or rotation be damned, to pick up the needed one point tomorrow, let alone all three.
27 December 2013
Visualized: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester City
Previous Match Infographics: Cardiff (h), Tottenham (a), West Ham (h), Norwich (h), Hull City (a), Everton (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), West Brom (h), Newcastle (a), Crystal Palace (h), Sunderland (a), Southampton (h), Swansea (a), Manchester United (h), Aston Villa (a), Stoke (h)
As always, match data from Stats Zone and Squawka.
Small consolation, but no side has given City a tougher game on their ground so far this season.
Only United and Tottenham took more shots; they lost 4-1 and 6-0 respectively. Only Arsenal and Everton had a higher shot conversion rate than Liverpool did; they lost 6-3 and 3-1 respectively. Only Tottenham and Swansea completed more passes than Liverpool did; Swansea lost 3-0. Only Swansea had a higher pass accuracy. Tottenham, Swansea, and United all had more possession than Liverpool, but all three were allowed that possession after City had put the game out of reach.
City had converted 23.6% of their shots in the first eight home matches, scoring once every 4.22 shots. City scored on just two of 20 shots yesterday, a 10% conversion rate. Only Hull had limited City to "just" two goals at home so far this season.
Sure, it makes no difference in the standings – City has won all three points on offer in their nine home matches this season, no matter how well or poorly the opposition has played – but it is a sign that Liverpool really can be one of the better sides in the league, and are deservedly in the discussion for the top four places.
City and Liverpool's passing totals may have been fairly similar, but who made those passes seems telling. Liverpool's top two passers? Sakho and Lucas, a center-back and the defensive midfielder. City's top two passers? David Silva and Yaya Toure. Much more of City's passes came in the opposition half, most notably down Liverpool's left. All five of City's midfielders attempted at least 50 passes, including the two wide players. Compare how involved Nasri and Navas were to Coutinho and Sterling. It's not a pretty comparison, nor does it speak well to how Liverpool's fullbacks defended.
And credit to City for how well they defended Luis Suarez. The last side to hold Suarez to "just" five shots was Hull – that horrible, horrible match. Arsenal, Everton, and Palace are the only sides to hold up under that total, and he scored against both Everton and Palace regardless. He'd been averaging 6.4 shots per game before yesterday's match, 7.4 in the five matches following Sturridge's injury.
That's not to say they rendered Suarez's invisible. He was at the hub of all of Liverpool's best moves, providing the pass to release Sterling that set up Liverpool's goal, the pass which should have released Sterling if not for an incorrect offside flag, the cross which Sterling should have buried in the 73rd, and leading the intricate attack which led to a glorious chance in the 40th minute. His four chances created were above his season-long average of 3.2, if only slightly. He realized he'd have to be more creator than scorer because of City's attentions and adjusted his game, only slipping back into selfish mode in the 51st minute, blasting at Hart from an acute angle with three players in a better position.
But mistakes are costly, and mistakes led to both of Liverpool's goals yesterday – even if only Mignolet's failed save statistically counts as a "defensive error." No side has made more defensive errors than Liverpool this season (via Squawka), at least one in every match. Liverpool have been lucky that only two have been punished, both by Mignolet, in the 3-1 win against Sunderland and yesterday's loss. But that doesn't count Skrtel's mistakes, either when defending Kompany on yesterday's set play goal or in his positioning on City's breakaway goal, or Cissokho's gaffes in those dangerous first 10-15 minutes, or Sakho's errant passing giveaways. It has been a team-wide problem, no matter formation or personnel. Liverpool have coped better in some matches than others, but it's been a constant problem.
Given how well Liverpool have done in attack, even considering that Liverpool only scored once yesterday, fixing the defense – especially on set plays – seems to be the only thing holding Liverpool back from being a truly great team.
As always, match data from Stats Zone and Squawka.
Small consolation, but no side has given City a tougher game on their ground so far this season.
Only United and Tottenham took more shots; they lost 4-1 and 6-0 respectively. Only Arsenal and Everton had a higher shot conversion rate than Liverpool did; they lost 6-3 and 3-1 respectively. Only Tottenham and Swansea completed more passes than Liverpool did; Swansea lost 3-0. Only Swansea had a higher pass accuracy. Tottenham, Swansea, and United all had more possession than Liverpool, but all three were allowed that possession after City had put the game out of reach.
City had converted 23.6% of their shots in the first eight home matches, scoring once every 4.22 shots. City scored on just two of 20 shots yesterday, a 10% conversion rate. Only Hull had limited City to "just" two goals at home so far this season.
Sure, it makes no difference in the standings – City has won all three points on offer in their nine home matches this season, no matter how well or poorly the opposition has played – but it is a sign that Liverpool really can be one of the better sides in the league, and are deservedly in the discussion for the top four places.
City and Liverpool's passing totals may have been fairly similar, but who made those passes seems telling. Liverpool's top two passers? Sakho and Lucas, a center-back and the defensive midfielder. City's top two passers? David Silva and Yaya Toure. Much more of City's passes came in the opposition half, most notably down Liverpool's left. All five of City's midfielders attempted at least 50 passes, including the two wide players. Compare how involved Nasri and Navas were to Coutinho and Sterling. It's not a pretty comparison, nor does it speak well to how Liverpool's fullbacks defended.
And credit to City for how well they defended Luis Suarez. The last side to hold Suarez to "just" five shots was Hull – that horrible, horrible match. Arsenal, Everton, and Palace are the only sides to hold up under that total, and he scored against both Everton and Palace regardless. He'd been averaging 6.4 shots per game before yesterday's match, 7.4 in the five matches following Sturridge's injury.
That's not to say they rendered Suarez's invisible. He was at the hub of all of Liverpool's best moves, providing the pass to release Sterling that set up Liverpool's goal, the pass which should have released Sterling if not for an incorrect offside flag, the cross which Sterling should have buried in the 73rd, and leading the intricate attack which led to a glorious chance in the 40th minute. His four chances created were above his season-long average of 3.2, if only slightly. He realized he'd have to be more creator than scorer because of City's attentions and adjusted his game, only slipping back into selfish mode in the 51st minute, blasting at Hart from an acute angle with three players in a better position.
But mistakes are costly, and mistakes led to both of Liverpool's goals yesterday – even if only Mignolet's failed save statistically counts as a "defensive error." No side has made more defensive errors than Liverpool this season (via Squawka), at least one in every match. Liverpool have been lucky that only two have been punished, both by Mignolet, in the 3-1 win against Sunderland and yesterday's loss. But that doesn't count Skrtel's mistakes, either when defending Kompany on yesterday's set play goal or in his positioning on City's breakaway goal, or Cissokho's gaffes in those dangerous first 10-15 minutes, or Sakho's errant passing giveaways. It has been a team-wide problem, no matter formation or personnel. Liverpool have coped better in some matches than others, but it's been a constant problem.
Given how well Liverpool have done in attack, even considering that Liverpool only scored once yesterday, fixing the defense – especially on set plays – seems to be the only thing holding Liverpool back from being a truly great team.
26 December 2013
Liverpool 1-2 Manchester City
Goals:
Coutinho 24'
Kompany 31'
Negredo 45+1'
There's a bit to be angry about, a bit to be depressed over, and a bit to be encouraged by.
First, the good news. Liverpool played well, matched City step for step for the majority of the match, even looked better than City for spells. Everyone gets beaten by City at home – it's the first time that City have failed to win by at least two goals at home this season – and City will have to travel to every other top either team except Chelsea in the second half of the season. Arsenal, Everton, United, Tottenham, and Newcastle were bullied at the City of Manchester Stadium. Liverpool were assuredly not bullied today.
The bad news: Liverpool conceded two Charmin soft goals – a set play and a counter attack, both starring Martin Skrtel – and missed a couple of glorious opportunities to equalize in the second half. Bullied or not, Liverpool still lost. The thin margins between a deserved point and a painful defeat.
With Flanagan not fit and Martin Kelly not even in the squad, Aly Cissokho made his first appearance since the 4-0 win against Fulham in early November. And City tormented that weak spot early and often, doubling up on the stand-in left back with Zabaleta and Nasri as Coutinho provided little assistance. It seemed a matter of time before City took advantage.
But it didn't last. Liverpool increasingly, incrementally asserted themselves after a scary start, and probably should have opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Or, more accurately, should have been allowed the chance to open the scoring, with Suarez's throughball finding Sterling's dangerous run piercing City's back line, put one-on-one with a scrambling Joe Hart.
Everyone in the stadium but the linesman and Lee Mason saw that he was onside. Sigh. Four minutes later, Coutinho's glorious pass nearly put Allen in, but a heavy touch allowed Lescott in to block. Still, City couldn't stop the bum rush. Another Suarez throughball, this chipped over City's back line, falling perfectly for Sterling, rounding Hart before Coutinho took over, smashing in from a marginally better angle.
But just like that, the match seesawed back. City immediately burst back into life, burst into Liverpool's half. Skrtel's last ditch block denied Toure, requiring a last ditch block because three Liverpool defenders were initially caught flat-footed. And of course, because Liverpool remain Liverpool, City's inevitable equalizer came on a set play, the seventh goal Liverpool have conceded from a dead ball situation this season. Skrtel, again the scapegoat, more focused on wrestling with Kompany than out-jumping Kompany, beaten to a header which gave Mignolet no chance.
City kept up the pressure, but without control or result – despite periods of dominance, neither side ever seemed in control – Navas blasting well over and Nasri tamely shooting at Mignolet from the top of the box the best two chances. Then, a Liverpool break nearly resulted in the goal of the season, absolutely magnificent interplay between Suarez, Sterling, and Coutinho when Lee Mason played advantage ending with the Brazilian's shot from 12 yards out denied by Hart.
But just before halftime, Liverpool were caught with their pants down, aimlessly tripping over those downed pants as a laugh track played in the background. Cissokho's cross to no one led to a blitzkreig counter-attack, with just Skrtel and Sakho left in Liverpool's half. Skrtel couldn't decide which City attacker to mark, eventually charging way out of position to try to close down Navas, leaving Sakho scrambling and Negredo wide open. Mignolet could have, should have prevented the goal, getting fingertips to the toed shot from the top of the box, but as it trickled over the line, you couldn't help but be much more aggrieved with Skrtel's "defending".
The second half saw City revert to a defensive shell, a vastly more expensive version of what Liverpool did in its three 1-0 wins to start the season. Henderson toe-poked a shot high and wide from the top of the box, Kompany cut out Johnson's dangerous cross, Suarez blasted a no-angle shot directly at Hart with three players in the 18-yard-box to aim at, an offside Henderson unwittingly blocked a Suarez effort on goal, Johnson couldn't control a fortunate rebound that would have seen him with an eight-yard shot at an open near post. The worst was in the 73rd minute, when Sterling ballooned a close-range effort from Suarez's early whipped cross. It wasn't a sitter, trying to run onto and finish a fierce, bouncing cross, but it was a clear-cut opportunity.
You don't often get that many chances, even if most were half-chances, at Manchester City. Liverpool will obviously rue not being able to take at least one of them. Thin margins, and all that.
With a 2-1 lead, Manchester City brought on Milner, Dzeko, and Javi Garcia to try to protect the result. £70m+ worth of players, just waiting around to be used off the bench. Chasing the game, Liverpool brought on on-loan Victor Moses and £7m Iago Aspas. Neither Moses nor Aspas have played in a meaningful match since the former started in the loss at Hull, having been used as human victory cigars a couple of times this month. And that's after having to start on-loan Cissokho because three other fullbacks were unavailable. That's the difference between Manchester City and Liverpool at the moment, and it's a credit to both Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers that Liverpool were even in position to get something from today's match.
But the substitutions had little effect, Liverpool limited to a 35-yard Suarez free kick and three hopeful penalty shouts in an attempt to replicate the scoreline from both meetings last season. Lee Mason wholly unsurprisingly, ignored all three, as City did what Liverpool couldn't in the first half. Don't concede because you don't make mistakes. Sometimes, it really is that simple.
So yes, it's an annoying, if not entirely unexpected, result. Liverpool's charge towards finishing in the top four will most likely be decided by other matches, first and foremost Sunday's trip to Chelsea. But, even in defeat, Liverpool proved they belonged in the discussion, belonged in the battle. Despite the mistakes, despite disappointing performances from a few key players (*glares at Skrtel and Johnson*), despite the big names missing, despite the disparity in finances.
That's assuredly progress, even if it is small consolation.
Coutinho 24'
Kompany 31'
Negredo 45+1'
There's a bit to be angry about, a bit to be depressed over, and a bit to be encouraged by.
First, the good news. Liverpool played well, matched City step for step for the majority of the match, even looked better than City for spells. Everyone gets beaten by City at home – it's the first time that City have failed to win by at least two goals at home this season – and City will have to travel to every other top either team except Chelsea in the second half of the season. Arsenal, Everton, United, Tottenham, and Newcastle were bullied at the City of Manchester Stadium. Liverpool were assuredly not bullied today.
The bad news: Liverpool conceded two Charmin soft goals – a set play and a counter attack, both starring Martin Skrtel – and missed a couple of glorious opportunities to equalize in the second half. Bullied or not, Liverpool still lost. The thin margins between a deserved point and a painful defeat.
With Flanagan not fit and Martin Kelly not even in the squad, Aly Cissokho made his first appearance since the 4-0 win against Fulham in early November. And City tormented that weak spot early and often, doubling up on the stand-in left back with Zabaleta and Nasri as Coutinho provided little assistance. It seemed a matter of time before City took advantage.
But it didn't last. Liverpool increasingly, incrementally asserted themselves after a scary start, and probably should have opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Or, more accurately, should have been allowed the chance to open the scoring, with Suarez's throughball finding Sterling's dangerous run piercing City's back line, put one-on-one with a scrambling Joe Hart.
Everyone in the stadium but the linesman and Lee Mason saw that he was onside. Sigh. Four minutes later, Coutinho's glorious pass nearly put Allen in, but a heavy touch allowed Lescott in to block. Still, City couldn't stop the bum rush. Another Suarez throughball, this chipped over City's back line, falling perfectly for Sterling, rounding Hart before Coutinho took over, smashing in from a marginally better angle.
But just like that, the match seesawed back. City immediately burst back into life, burst into Liverpool's half. Skrtel's last ditch block denied Toure, requiring a last ditch block because three Liverpool defenders were initially caught flat-footed. And of course, because Liverpool remain Liverpool, City's inevitable equalizer came on a set play, the seventh goal Liverpool have conceded from a dead ball situation this season. Skrtel, again the scapegoat, more focused on wrestling with Kompany than out-jumping Kompany, beaten to a header which gave Mignolet no chance.
City kept up the pressure, but without control or result – despite periods of dominance, neither side ever seemed in control – Navas blasting well over and Nasri tamely shooting at Mignolet from the top of the box the best two chances. Then, a Liverpool break nearly resulted in the goal of the season, absolutely magnificent interplay between Suarez, Sterling, and Coutinho when Lee Mason played advantage ending with the Brazilian's shot from 12 yards out denied by Hart.
But just before halftime, Liverpool were caught with their pants down, aimlessly tripping over those downed pants as a laugh track played in the background. Cissokho's cross to no one led to a blitzkreig counter-attack, with just Skrtel and Sakho left in Liverpool's half. Skrtel couldn't decide which City attacker to mark, eventually charging way out of position to try to close down Navas, leaving Sakho scrambling and Negredo wide open. Mignolet could have, should have prevented the goal, getting fingertips to the toed shot from the top of the box, but as it trickled over the line, you couldn't help but be much more aggrieved with Skrtel's "defending".
The second half saw City revert to a defensive shell, a vastly more expensive version of what Liverpool did in its three 1-0 wins to start the season. Henderson toe-poked a shot high and wide from the top of the box, Kompany cut out Johnson's dangerous cross, Suarez blasted a no-angle shot directly at Hart with three players in the 18-yard-box to aim at, an offside Henderson unwittingly blocked a Suarez effort on goal, Johnson couldn't control a fortunate rebound that would have seen him with an eight-yard shot at an open near post. The worst was in the 73rd minute, when Sterling ballooned a close-range effort from Suarez's early whipped cross. It wasn't a sitter, trying to run onto and finish a fierce, bouncing cross, but it was a clear-cut opportunity.
You don't often get that many chances, even if most were half-chances, at Manchester City. Liverpool will obviously rue not being able to take at least one of them. Thin margins, and all that.
With a 2-1 lead, Manchester City brought on Milner, Dzeko, and Javi Garcia to try to protect the result. £70m+ worth of players, just waiting around to be used off the bench. Chasing the game, Liverpool brought on on-loan Victor Moses and £7m Iago Aspas. Neither Moses nor Aspas have played in a meaningful match since the former started in the loss at Hull, having been used as human victory cigars a couple of times this month. And that's after having to start on-loan Cissokho because three other fullbacks were unavailable. That's the difference between Manchester City and Liverpool at the moment, and it's a credit to both Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers that Liverpool were even in position to get something from today's match.
But the substitutions had little effect, Liverpool limited to a 35-yard Suarez free kick and three hopeful penalty shouts in an attempt to replicate the scoreline from both meetings last season. Lee Mason wholly unsurprisingly, ignored all three, as City did what Liverpool couldn't in the first half. Don't concede because you don't make mistakes. Sometimes, it really is that simple.
So yes, it's an annoying, if not entirely unexpected, result. Liverpool's charge towards finishing in the top four will most likely be decided by other matches, first and foremost Sunday's trip to Chelsea. But, even in defeat, Liverpool proved they belonged in the discussion, belonged in the battle. Despite the mistakes, despite disappointing performances from a few key players (*glares at Skrtel and Johnson*), despite the big names missing, despite the disparity in finances.
That's assuredly progress, even if it is small consolation.
25 December 2013
Liverpool at Manchester City 12.26.13
12:30pm ET, live in the US on NBC Sports
Last four head-to-head:
2-2 (a) 02.03.13
2-2 (h) 08.26.12
2-2 (h; League Cup) 01.25.12
1-0 Liverpool (a; League Cup) 01.11.12
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 3-1 Cardiff (h); 5-0 Tottenham (a); 4-1 West Ham (h)
City: 4-2 Fulham (a); 3-1 Leicester (a); 6-3 Arsenal (h)
Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Suarez 19; Sturridge 9; Gerrard, Sterling 3; Coutinho, Flanagan, Henderson, Moses, Sakho, Skrtel 1
City: Agüero 13; Toure 9; Negredo 7; Nasri, Silva 4; Dzeko, Navas 3; Fernandinho 2; Kompany, Milner 1
Referee: Lee Mason
Guess at a line-up:
Mignolet
Kelly Skrtel Sakho Johnson
Lucas
Henderson Allen
Sterling Suarez Coutinho
Gerrard, Sturridge, Enrique, and most likely Flanagan are out for Liverpool. Agüero, Nastasic, Richards, and most likely Zabaleta and Jovetic are out for Manchester City.
The festive period. Match after match after match. Squads pushed to the limit. It's the most wonderful time of the year.
Other than the probable absence of Jon Flanalahm thanks to a hamstring issue, I can't see any Liverpool changes. If it ain't broke, etc. There seems a small chance that Rodgers could rearrange things in an attempt to stifle City – change the center-back pairing or revert to three at the back – but he usually prefers to stick with a winning side, rotation and rest be damned. Given the way Liverpool have performed in the last two matches, I'd be surprised if it were otherwise.
And City will be difficult to stifle. They're the league's top scorers, the only club who've scored more than Liverpool, the only club with a better goal difference than Liverpool. They've won eight out of eight matches at home this season, scoring 35 while conceding just five. They've tallied six against Arsenal and Tottenham, four against United and Newcastle, and three against Everton at the City of Manchester Stadium. Yikes. To say the absolute least.
Pellegrini's side will line up in some variation of 4-2-3-1. Lately, it's been more of the 4-2-2-2 variety, with Negredo lurking off Dzeko or Agüero, Nasri and Silva wide, and Toure and Fernandinho taking turns bombing forward from midfield. And because of City's injuries, that set up seems likely tomorrow. Hart, returned to favor, in goal; Kompany and Demichelis at center-back, Toure and Fernandinho in midfield; Nasri, Negredo, and Silva in the attacking line of three; and Dzeko up top. With both Zabaleta and Richards missing, Clichy played at right-back, with Kolarov on the opposite flank, in the last match against Fulham. If the Argentinean is still unavailable, that'll probably be the case tomorrow as well.
Pellegrini could be slightly more conservative, playing either Negredo or Dzeko as the lone striker, bringing in Navas or Milner instead – Navas could pose a difficult challenge for whichever right-footed player lines up at left-back – with Silva lining up more centrally, or even pushing Toure further forward with Javi Garcia next to Fernandinho, but that seems the only potential change from last week's lineup.
It's been a Merry Christmas with Liverpool top of the league, something that hasn't happened in far too long, something that we should enjoy and celebrate after the torture and travails of the last few years. But it doesn't mean as much as we'd like given the next two matches to come. These two fixtures, starting with tomorrow's trip to Manchester, will go a long way towards deciding whether the league standing is a lie, whether Liverpool truly are contenders or pretenders.
Last four head-to-head:
2-2 (a) 02.03.13
2-2 (h) 08.26.12
2-2 (h; League Cup) 01.25.12
1-0 Liverpool (a; League Cup) 01.11.12
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 3-1 Cardiff (h); 5-0 Tottenham (a); 4-1 West Ham (h)
City: 4-2 Fulham (a); 3-1 Leicester (a); 6-3 Arsenal (h)
Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Suarez 19; Sturridge 9; Gerrard, Sterling 3; Coutinho, Flanagan, Henderson, Moses, Sakho, Skrtel 1
City: Agüero 13; Toure 9; Negredo 7; Nasri, Silva 4; Dzeko, Navas 3; Fernandinho 2; Kompany, Milner 1
Referee: Lee Mason
Guess at a line-up:
Mignolet
Kelly Skrtel Sakho Johnson
Lucas
Henderson Allen
Sterling Suarez Coutinho
Gerrard, Sturridge, Enrique, and most likely Flanagan are out for Liverpool. Agüero, Nastasic, Richards, and most likely Zabaleta and Jovetic are out for Manchester City.
The festive period. Match after match after match. Squads pushed to the limit. It's the most wonderful time of the year.
Other than the probable absence of Jon Flanalahm thanks to a hamstring issue, I can't see any Liverpool changes. If it ain't broke, etc. There seems a small chance that Rodgers could rearrange things in an attempt to stifle City – change the center-back pairing or revert to three at the back – but he usually prefers to stick with a winning side, rotation and rest be damned. Given the way Liverpool have performed in the last two matches, I'd be surprised if it were otherwise.
And City will be difficult to stifle. They're the league's top scorers, the only club who've scored more than Liverpool, the only club with a better goal difference than Liverpool. They've won eight out of eight matches at home this season, scoring 35 while conceding just five. They've tallied six against Arsenal and Tottenham, four against United and Newcastle, and three against Everton at the City of Manchester Stadium. Yikes. To say the absolute least.
Pellegrini's side will line up in some variation of 4-2-3-1. Lately, it's been more of the 4-2-2-2 variety, with Negredo lurking off Dzeko or Agüero, Nasri and Silva wide, and Toure and Fernandinho taking turns bombing forward from midfield. And because of City's injuries, that set up seems likely tomorrow. Hart, returned to favor, in goal; Kompany and Demichelis at center-back, Toure and Fernandinho in midfield; Nasri, Negredo, and Silva in the attacking line of three; and Dzeko up top. With both Zabaleta and Richards missing, Clichy played at right-back, with Kolarov on the opposite flank, in the last match against Fulham. If the Argentinean is still unavailable, that'll probably be the case tomorrow as well.
Pellegrini could be slightly more conservative, playing either Negredo or Dzeko as the lone striker, bringing in Navas or Milner instead – Navas could pose a difficult challenge for whichever right-footed player lines up at left-back – with Silva lining up more centrally, or even pushing Toure further forward with Javi Garcia next to Fernandinho, but that seems the only potential change from last week's lineup.
It's been a Merry Christmas with Liverpool top of the league, something that hasn't happened in far too long, something that we should enjoy and celebrate after the torture and travails of the last few years. But it doesn't mean as much as we'd like given the next two matches to come. These two fixtures, starting with tomorrow's trip to Manchester, will go a long way towards deciding whether the league standing is a lie, whether Liverpool truly are contenders or pretenders.
23 December 2013
Visualized: Liverpool 3-1 Cardiff
Previous Match Infographics: Tottenham (a), West Ham (h), Norwich (h), Hull City (a), Everton (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), West Brom (h), Newcastle (a), Crystal Palace (h), Sunderland (a), Southampton (h), Swansea (a), Manchester United (h), Aston Villa (a), Stoke (h)
As always, match data from Stats Zone and Squawka.
Fairly standard fare. Liverpool dominated possession, tempo, and tenor, Liverpool made an early breakthrough thanks to Suarez's brilliance, Liverpool cruised. Fairly standard fare will suffice just fine at this point of the season.
Cardiff attempted and completed the fewest passes, with the lowest accuracy, of any Liverpool opponent so far this season. It's the second lowest passing total by a Liverpool opponent since Rodgers became manager, with Villa attempting just 211 passes, completing 146, in their 3-1 win at Anfield a year ago. That was also the only match where Liverpool had more possession in a single half than they did in the first half on Saturday, with 75.8% possession in the second half against Villa.
Wait. You're right. I shouldn't have mentioned that monstrosity of a match. I'm sorry.
Jordan Henderson tallied his fourth and fifth assists of the season, setting up both of Suarez's goals. Henderson has assisted at least one of Suarez's goals in three consecutive matches: Liverpool fourth against West Ham, the first goal at Tottenham, and the two goals on Saturday.
Liverpool's most frequent assist-scorer combination last season was Jose Enrique setting up Suarez. It happened four times. Henderson-to-Suarez has already surpassed that, in just 12 games.
It's been excellent to see the two increasingly on the same wavelength in the opposition half with Henderson playing a more influential, more attacking role in Gerrard's absence.
As hoped, the midfield performed almost as effectively as it did against Tottenham, with the difference most due to Cardiff's vastly improved organization. Henderson, Allen, and Lucas all know their roles, and mesh together excellently.
That Henderson's added a finishing touch – whether in his goal against Tottenham or the assists in both matches – has been the most important feature, or at least the feature that most worried me prior to these two matches, but all three midfielders continue to play the same harmonious tune.
Meanwhile, five of Cardiff's eight chances created came from set plays. It's good that Liverpool limited the opposition to just eight chances. It's quite good that they were limited to just three from open play. But it's bad that Cardiff created five chances from 10 set plays in Liverpool's defensive half, creating chances on three of the five corners and two of the five free kicks.
Six of the 19 goals that Liverpool have conceded so far this campaign have come from set plays. That's 31.6%. That's terrible. And that doesn't include goals by Everton and Hull which came after Liverpool failed to clear a free kick.
Saturday's consolation was especially abhorrent.
Where's Skrtel going? Why is Sakho left alone against two players at the back post? Liverpool conceded because of two mistakes: Skrtel broke the offside trap, someone forgot who he was marking. I assume the marking broke down because Kelly had just come on, changing the defensive assignments, but that's little excuse (if it's even correct). Regardless, these should be easily remedied mistakes. But we're still seeing far too many mistakes when defending set plays, and better sides will undoubtedly punish Liverpool for it.
Incidentally, after a 4-2 win over Fulham on Saturday where they scored from a corner and direct free kick, Manchester City now have 11 goals from set plays this season. Which is tied for the most in the league with Liverpool.
As always, match data from Stats Zone and Squawka.
Fairly standard fare. Liverpool dominated possession, tempo, and tenor, Liverpool made an early breakthrough thanks to Suarez's brilliance, Liverpool cruised. Fairly standard fare will suffice just fine at this point of the season.
Cardiff attempted and completed the fewest passes, with the lowest accuracy, of any Liverpool opponent so far this season. It's the second lowest passing total by a Liverpool opponent since Rodgers became manager, with Villa attempting just 211 passes, completing 146, in their 3-1 win at Anfield a year ago. That was also the only match where Liverpool had more possession in a single half than they did in the first half on Saturday, with 75.8% possession in the second half against Villa.
Wait. You're right. I shouldn't have mentioned that monstrosity of a match. I'm sorry.
Jordan Henderson tallied his fourth and fifth assists of the season, setting up both of Suarez's goals. Henderson has assisted at least one of Suarez's goals in three consecutive matches: Liverpool fourth against West Ham, the first goal at Tottenham, and the two goals on Saturday.
All 5 of Henderson's assists in 2013/14 have been for Suárez. No player has set up another for as many goals in the PL this season #LFC
— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) December 22, 2013Liverpool's most frequent assist-scorer combination last season was Jose Enrique setting up Suarez. It happened four times. Henderson-to-Suarez has already surpassed that, in just 12 games.
It's been excellent to see the two increasingly on the same wavelength in the opposition half with Henderson playing a more influential, more attacking role in Gerrard's absence.
As hoped, the midfield performed almost as effectively as it did against Tottenham, with the difference most due to Cardiff's vastly improved organization. Henderson, Allen, and Lucas all know their roles, and mesh together excellently.
That Henderson's added a finishing touch – whether in his goal against Tottenham or the assists in both matches – has been the most important feature, or at least the feature that most worried me prior to these two matches, but all three midfielders continue to play the same harmonious tune.
Meanwhile, five of Cardiff's eight chances created came from set plays. It's good that Liverpool limited the opposition to just eight chances. It's quite good that they were limited to just three from open play. But it's bad that Cardiff created five chances from 10 set plays in Liverpool's defensive half, creating chances on three of the five corners and two of the five free kicks.
Six of the 19 goals that Liverpool have conceded so far this campaign have come from set plays. That's 31.6%. That's terrible. And that doesn't include goals by Everton and Hull which came after Liverpool failed to clear a free kick.
Saturday's consolation was especially abhorrent.
Where's Skrtel going? Why is Sakho left alone against two players at the back post? Liverpool conceded because of two mistakes: Skrtel broke the offside trap, someone forgot who he was marking. I assume the marking broke down because Kelly had just come on, changing the defensive assignments, but that's little excuse (if it's even correct). Regardless, these should be easily remedied mistakes. But we're still seeing far too many mistakes when defending set plays, and better sides will undoubtedly punish Liverpool for it.
Incidentally, after a 4-2 win over Fulham on Saturday where they scored from a corner and direct free kick, Manchester City now have 11 goals from set plays this season. Which is tied for the most in the league with Liverpool.
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