Sunday 23 September 2012

Liverpool v Manchester United

After a hard fought win on Thursday against Young Boys, Liverpool hosted Manchester United at Anfield in what would be an emotional occasion.

Both sides of fans took part in the pre match tribute to the 96 lost at Hillsborough which was observed with utmost respect and the pre-match handshake caused no problems unlike previous matches.

Liverpool started the better and created numerous chances but as is the Liverpool way this season they couldn't hit the target. Borini and Suarez each had great chances to break the deadlock and the pace and skill of Sterling and Kelly created openings for the home side.

However the balance of the game changed dramatically on 39 minutes as Jonjo Shelvey received his marching orders with a straight red card for a challenge on Evans which on replay looked to be the right decision but Evans may have received a booking as it looked like both went in hard on each other.

Half time came and both sides went in equal at 0-0 with Liverpoool hoping their numerical disadvantage wouldn't cost them the game.

A surprise substitution saw Suso make his Premier League debut in place of Fabio Borini and Liverpool started the half in the best possible way as Steven Gerrard slammed home in the 46th minute, Glen Johnson's attempted burst into the box saw the ball fall into Gerrard's path and he beat Lindegaard with a low finish.

The lead lasted barely five minutes before a spectacular effort by Rafael drew United level with an equaliser of pure class, he collected the ball on the right-hand side of the Liverpool area and bent in a superb shot that left Reina powerless as the ball curled in off the far post.

Luis Suarez had a great chance to regain the lead on the hour mark with a powerful shot from just outside the box which forced a good save from Lindegaard and five minutes later, Suso had a great chance but again Lindegaard kept the scores level.

Raheem Sterling departed the field and Jordan Henderson entered the fray on 66 minutes and Sterling received a great ovation for his good performance.

Suarez broke through  and sprayed the ball across the box but no team mates were in attendance to tap the ball in and regain the lead in the 69th minute.

Penalty to Manchester United on 76 minutes and Johnson conceded it as Valencia advanced into the box and the two collided as Reina came out. Daniel Agger left the field on a stretcher at the other end of the pitch and on came Jamie Carragher. 

No surprise as Robin Van Persie puts the penalty to Reina's left side after a four minute delay and despite getting a touch to the ball he couldn't keep it out and United led 2-1 and Liverpool needed a miracle to claim their maiden win of the season.

Things got worse in injury time as Martin Kelly limped off leaving Liverpool with only nine on the pitch and after six minutes of added time the whistle went and United took the points leaving Liverpool winless after five games.

Other results this weekend
Dare I say it, this is relegation form and I can't see it getting better this season, luck is just not with us and Norwich next Saturday is a must-win no matter what as winless after five is embarrassing enough.




Friday 21 September 2012

Young Boys V Liverpool

Liverpool began their Europa League group campaign away in Switzerland to Young Boys and with a massive clash against Manchester United on Sunday, Brendan Rodgers made 11 changes.

Debuts were handed to Suso, Wisdom and Assaidi and Dani Pacheco gained his first start since April 2011. Liverpool were given a very early lead on 4 minutes as Stewart Downing's cross flew into the area with Spycher's headed clearance then ricocheting off Ojala and past 'keeper Wolfli in a comical and unlucky scene. Young Boys nearly drew level straight away but Bobadilla's shot was well saved by Brad Jones.

Assaidi had the chance to put Liverpool 2-0 up on 24 minutes but his shot drifted wide to keep the margin to a single goal and Suso's cut back on 36 minutes failed to reach an unmarked Pacheco. Two minutes later that proved to be costly due to an error by Enrique who took the ball past his own keeper and as he cleared it broke to Nuzzolo and he levellled the score with an easy finish.

Liverpool went 2-1 up on 40 minutes after an amazing leap by Andre Wisdom, Wisdom's powerful header flew in at the far post for his first senior goal on his debut and put Liverpool in front just before half time. Young Boys came so close to levelling two minutes before the break as Farnerud's shot came back off the upright ensured a half time lead for Liverpool.

Young Boys equalised on 52 minutes courtesy of Ojala who made up for his comical own goal from earlier on with a well postitioned header past Brad Jones to score his first goal for the club and put his team back in the game.

Bobadilla's quick break on 63 minutes released Zarate who chipped over Jones and put Young Boys ahead 3-2 just after Borini entered the fray. Zarate departed the field barely two minutes after giving his side the lead and Borini nearly equalised soon after but failed to beat the keeper leading to Assaidi's departure and the entry of Shelvey.

Shelvey had been on barely five seconds and Liverpool were level thanks to Seb Coates with a superb header which flew in past Wolfli as Borini put the 'keeper off on 66 minutes.

 Liverpool went 4-3 up after a nice run by Fabio Borini down the left spry the ball to Henderson who with one touch sets up Jonjo Shelvey to side foot into the goal on 76 minutes and Raheem Sterling came on for Stewart Downing.

Farnerud came close to equaising on 81 minutes but saw hiw shot saved by Jones but on 88 minutes, Jonjo Shelvey scored his second with a run down the middle and then took it past two defenders before powering a shot from the edge of the area which blew past Wolfli in the Young Boys net to seal the win in an eight goal thriller.

A great way to prepare for Sunday and to send a message to the other teams in the group that despite fielding a youthful side, Liverpool can still perform and win well.



Other results tonight were as follows...




Saturday 15 September 2012

Sunderland V Liverpool

After a two week break, Liverpool travelled up to Sunderland hoping to record a first win of the season but sadly the hope failed to produce such an outcome.

Liverpool started brightly with Fabio Borini having two chances saved but it was Sunderland who made the breakthrough as Craig Gardner went on a run and supplied a cross for Steven Fletcher who tapped in past the ailing Reina to give the Wearsiders the lead.

Frustration grew for Liverpool as Luis Suarez received a booking for 'diving' after he went over John O'Shea's leg and at the halfway point, Liverpool needed to continue with their attacking while improving in the defence to prevent Sunderland closing up the game.


 After the break, Liverpool came achingly close to an equaliser after a break by Glen Johnson allowed him to cut inside and curl a shot which cannoned back off the crossbar. The home side survived yet again as Raheem Sterling put in a cross which caused defensive confusion and ended with Steven Gerrard shooting narrowly past the post.

Sterling continued to be the main threat to Sunderland's and sure enough his cross set up Luis Suarez's equaliser. As the cross came in, Suarez failed to connect with his first attempt after a ricochet from defender Titus Bramble but his second chance hit the back of the net and Liverpool were level and back in the game. Jonjo Shelvey had the chance to secure a maiden win for Liverpool in the final minutes but failed to convert the chance.

Overall, a draw was a fair result as Liverpool's dominance in chances on target left them cursing their luck and Sunderland's resolute defence added to the visitors frustration.

Positives can be taken from the performance of Sterling who over the 90 minutes formed the main threat which was lacking from some of the more senior players and also a draw is better than a defeat.

Young Boys next up in the Europa League before a massive game against Manchester United.


Today's results...

Monday 3 September 2012

Liverpool v Arsenal

After qualifying for the Europa League group stage to face Anzhi, Udinese and Young Boys, Liverpool turned their attention back to the Premier League and the pursuit of a first win of the season. The lineup included a debut for Nuri Sahin and Raheem Sterling again getting a start alongside Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini.
Liverpool had the first real chance to score via Fabio Borini but he shot wide of Mannone's left post and minutes later the same result came from a Luis Suarez set-piece.

Liverpool looked the most likely to score as the first half went on but were then dealt a massive blow as Gerrard lost possession when trying to put Suarez through on goal only to be intercepted by Podolski who fired the ball up the field to Santi Cazorla who advanced past a back tracking home defence to then lay the ball off to Podolski who's shot crept under Johnson's leg to then take a slight touch off  'keeper Reina and slot in the right corner after 31 minutes.

Liverpool's response to the blow was instant as Gerrard and Borini linked up to put in Sterling but his shot narrowly missed the left post and meant Liverpool went into halftime 1-0 down.

The second half started brightly as Gerrard found space out on the right and crossed looking to pick out Suarez but Suarez looked to have been wrestled to the the ground by Per Mertesacker but appeals for a penatly were turned away by referee Howard Webb while replays showed that Mertesacker had been lucky not to have been sent off.

Downing entered the fray just before the hour mark and setup Suarez who forced a save from Mannone who tipped the shot over the crossbar to stop Liverpool from levelling the score. 

However on 68 minutes, disaster for Liverpool as Cazorla and Giroud linked up passes and Cazorla surged into the box and struck for goal with the ball cannoning off Reina and going in to give the Gunners a two goal lead and leave Liverpool needing a miracle to salvage a point.

Liverpool pressed to get back in the game but in the final 20 minutes their efforts failed to come to fruition and despite an impressive performance another game goes without a win.

The international break could be a blessing and give Brendan Rodgers the chance to find what needs to be done in order for Liverpool to claim a first win which hopefully will come against Sunderland. 



Saturday 1 September 2012

Liverpool v Hearts

After narrowly winning at Tynecastle last week, Liverpool knew a decent performance would see them through to the Europa League group stage and Thursdays effort was more than decent despite drawing 1-1 on the night.

Both sides had chances in the first half but Anfield soon erupted with Liverpool's Adam Morgan tucking the ball into the net only to see his celebrations end with news of the goal being disallowed as the pass he took from Suarez had included the ball leaving the field of play.

After the interval, the pressure built and Morgan received a standing ovation for a superb hour's work as Raheem Sterling took to the field, Henderson carved open Hearts and put Suarez in on goal only for Luis to take the ball too wide, he tried to correct the overrun but this shot deflected behind. Shelvey then tried to setup Suarez but Luis' one touch drag away from 'keeper MacDonald went wide of the far post.

However with just six minutes remaining, Hearts levelled the tie as Templeton's 35 yard strike was fumbled into the net by Reina to send the away end into raptures and have Liverpool cursing their missed chances. Luis Suarez's night had been chance after chance and finally he got his reward as on 88 minutes he took the ball from Gerrard down the left and outran two Hearts defenders to slot home past MacDonald to regain the lead in the tie and level the score on the night. Hearts tried to score again to go through at the expense of Liverpool but to no avail. The full time whistle went and Liverpool qualify for the group stage draw with the narrowest of margins.


Other results were....





Sunday 26 August 2012

Liverpool v Manchester City

After the disaster against West Brom last week, Liverpool sat bottom of the league at kick-off today and looked to kick start the season. Surprises in the starting lineup as Raheem Sterling made his first start in the Premier League and Coates was preferred to Jamie Carragher.

 The game began with a negative for Liverpool as Lucas went off injured after four minutes to be replaced by Jonjo Shelvey, (minor thigh injury). Both teams started well but the best chance fell to Liverpool as a Raheem Sterling cross needed a touch from Fabio Borini to go in and no connection was made. Anfield hearts stopped on 19 minutes as Carlos Tevez's shot took a minuscule touch off Reina to scrape the post and bounce back into play keeping the score goalless.

The breakthrough came on 34 minutes as Steven Gerrard's swinging cross was sliced by City's Kompany over Joe Hart narrowly avoiding an own goal but leading to a corner, in came the corner from Gerrard and GOALLLLL! 1-0 Liverpool as Martin Skrtel powers in a header to score Liverpool's first league goal of the season and cap a period of dominance in possession which was something which rarely happened last season.

The dominance continued and Liverpool ended the half leading 1-0 and with great confidence for the next 45 minutes. Halftime and we are beating the reigning champions = Brilliant.

The lead ended on 63 minutes as a failed clearance by Martin Kelly reached Yaya Toure who buried the equaliser and make it 1-1. City's delight came to a sudden halt on 67 minutes as a free kick awarded after a Kolorov handball saw Luis Suarez rocket the ball past Joe Hart and regain the lead for Liverpool and cause Anfield to erupt, 2-1 Liverpool.

Another Liverpool mistake and City equalise again, Skrtel back passes straight to Carlos Tevez, and Tevez slots past Reina to make it 2-2 on 80 minutes. Jonjo Shelvey nearly regains the lead for Liverpool but his shot sailed over a minute after the equaliser.

The score remained the same till the end and what should have been a massive win resulted in a reasonable draw. Before the game, most Liverpool fans myself included would have taken a draw but after leading twice and in front with ten minutes to go, a draw is a slight disappointment as it leaves us 16th and with our next league game against Arsenal also at home surely it is a must win to give the season a push in the right direction .

Next game is against Hearts in the Europa League Play-off second leg so hopefully my next blog will be with us safely in the group stage draw.





Saturday 25 August 2012

Hearts v Liverpool

Anglo-Scottish ties of the past have seen great games and Thursday's clash lived up to its predecessors with a close game won by an unlucky own goal from Hearts defender Andy Webster.

Both sides had chances to score with Novikovas and Taouil both coming close for Hearts and Fabio Borini smashing a shot against the post just before half-time for Liverpool.  The winning goal came on 78 minutes after a swinging cross from Liverpool right back Martin Kelly missed everyone including the attacking run of Fabio Borini to clip the leg of Andy Webster and give Liverpool a 1-0 win.

Liverpool from the win have an away goal to take back to Anfield for the second leg this coming Thursday with the victor progressing to the Europa League group stage draw.