All Things Red: Issue 15

Last updated : 20 January 2006 By John Roache
This is an absolutely pivotal time for Liverpool; the defeat of rivals
Tottenham on Saturday was the first big step forward in a long line of
challenges, with an unpredictable Manchester United up next on Sunday and
the problem of finding a right-sided midfielder in time for the end of the
transfer window. Fans may not realise it, but in terms of Liverpool’s
season and, indeed, their short and long-term future, these next few weeks
could be the determination of where this club is at the moment, and what
its true ambitions are for the foreseeable future and beyond. It is
imperative that we get it right.

The Right Winger

It is obvious and public news that Liverpool are looking for a right-sided
midfielder and have been doing for some time. So many names have cropped up in the many months that the club has been chasing new talent that the list of possibilities must be heavily cut down to just a select few:
Simao, Joaquin, Walcott, Malbranque and Shaun Wright-Phillips are the
players that Liverpool undoubtedly would like the most. But how much money
does the club actually have? There’s been a fair bit spent already this
season – try £6 million for Reina, £5.5 million for Sissoko, £5.5 million
for Agger and £7 million for Crouch. For a club supposedly in debt, even
after a lucrative (but not as lucrative as some thought) Champions League
victory, that is some expenditure.

So, what does Benitez have left to splash out with? Simao looks like he’d
cost at very least £10 million, Joaquin around £15 million, Walcott at
least £12 million (and from the sounds of it Arsenal have him wrapped up),
Malbranque more than £5 million and Shaun Wright-Phillips… well, Chelsea
simply won’t sell him to us, so a price isn’t even necessary as a
deterrent. I doubt we’d be able to come up with a package which would even
begin to compensate their ridiculous £21 million summer investment. Can we
afford these kinds of prices at all? I’m no financial expert, but I know
that Liverpool are unlikely to spend big on a player whilst Benitez is in
charge; his team-orientated theory and modest values in the transfer
market are evidence that he won’t blow a budget on one key player, who, at
the end of the day, may get injured straight away or not settle down at
all.

With the recent impressive form, can we consider not buying a right-sided
midfielder whatsoever? Or is that just an outlandish idea? Well, Steven
Gerrard may be a good right midfielder, but he enjoys playing in the
middle more and surely wants to move back into the centre as soon as
possible. Yet Liverpool have been so good and so balanced since he went
out wide – will Benitez once again overrule the personal feelings of one
of his players in order to benefit the team, and avoid buying big for the
right-hand side? Only time will tell, but if no solution comes along soon
then Benitez won’t hesitate to tell Gerrard that he’s staying where he is,
and we might not get a full-time right midfielder until the summer after
all.

The Match vs. Tottenham (h)

These two sides, pundits said at the start of the year, are very evenly
matched and will finish in a similar league position, probably 4th or 5th.
Well, they are correct in some respects and blatantly wrong in others;
Liverpool and Tottenham are both greatly improved on last year, but
Benitez has taken his team further than Jol has taken his, although at
times the difference is slight, as shown in Saturday’s tight encounter.

Also, it now looks likely that 4th and 5th will be occupied by different
teams – Liverpool are rising, quickly, with the intention of pushing
leaders Chelsea right to the last match, even if the hope of catching them
fades every week and every time they win. Tottenham have a good chance of a finish above rivals Arsenal after the Gunners’ slow start, whilst our
boys are heading for a finish which will break up that much-talked-about
‘top three’ and show people finally that we do actually mean business.

The match itself was a mixture of cautious respect and bursts of random
excitement; no pattern was particularly followed and each side was as
happy without the ball as it was with it. The passing became better as the
game went on but Liverpool always seemed in control of the midfield
anyway, Alonso dealing excellently with Davids and Steven Gerrard as usual
flying all over the pitch with an incredible everlasting battery. Harry
Kewell carried on his revival of sorts with more direct running, more
pressure on his opponents, and more attacking endeavour than we’ve seen
from him for some time, possible since he arrived for what we all
considered a bargain at £5 million from Leeds.

The first half was 45 minutes of slight nervousness; a definite ‘sniffing
out’ of this rival team, but Liverpool had a good chance within 10
minutes. Gerrard picked out Crouch perfectly but the big man could only
put his diving header straight at Robinson who saved with ease. Tottenham
briefly threatened and had a period of control as Dawson headed over the
bar from a corner, but their revival was short-lived as soon Fernando
Morientes was sending a looping header onto the top of the crossbar and
over, marking his certain aerial threat and warning the Spurs defenders
not to switch off. The second half began with Spurs suddenly with their
tails up, and Riise’s defensive frailties were quickly exposed by a
determined Jermaine Jenas on the wing. The former Magpie then put it on a
plate for Robbie Keane, who was surely distracted by the oncoming figure
of Reina and missed the best chance of the match.

As the game went on, the feeling was similar to that familiar ‘0-0’
feeling. Would we ever break this deadlock? Just when everything we were
doing was cleared by the formidable King and Dawson (who, by the way, we
should have bought when we had the chance), Steve Finnan showed why Jan
Krompkamp may well have a very tough time trying to break into the team
with a deft cross that started to drop just as Harry Kewell blazed in at
the far post. The Australian watched it all the way, timed his left-footed
swing to devastating perfection and Robinson was finally beaten, the net
bulging and threatening to break upon impact. It was an awesome goal, and
probably the difference between Spurs and Liverpool this year: that little
spark that can start anything from nowhere and special players such as
Steven Gerrard, Harry Kewell and Xabi Alonso who can make that happen.

Spurs responded almost instantaneously with Mido bringing the best out of
Reina and forcing a diving one-handed stop, but Liverpool aspired once
more to look the more dangerous and Gerrard stung the hands of Robinson
with a thunderous but rather central drive. Cisse was introduced and
showed glimpses of the ultimate counter-attacking pace which makes him
such a dangerous and, at times, useful player, winning a corner which
almost led to a second goal. Riise attempted to hit the game’s second
amazing volley, but Hyypia got in the ball’s way and deflected it wide
accidentally. The big Finn pretended, out of pure manliness, that it
didn’t hurt, but my oh my a John Arne Riise special like that has got to
leave a mark!

After that, the match was finely balanced but never really in danger of
changing drastically until the last few minutes. Kewell was sent racing
away and looking to score number two for the season, but was taken down
cynically by Paul Stalteri. The Canadian was duly shown red by the referee
but it was Tottenham, and Robbie Keane again, who were threatening to
score next. With a minute or so left, Keane beat the offside trap and was
clearly surprised by that fact; his half-volley was indecisive and weak
and caused Reina no problems as Spurs saw their last chance of taking a
point from Anfield this season relinquished rather carelessly.
Player ratings: Reina 7, Finnan 9, Hyypia 8, Carragher 7, Riise 7, Kewell
9, Sissoko 7, Alonso 7, Gerrard 8, Crouch 6, Morientes 6. Subs: Cisse 7,
Warnock 6, Kromkamp 6.

All Things Red in Short

Congratulations to the imperial Steven Gerrard and important Luis Garcia
on receiving their places in the UEFA Team of the Year. Gerrard deserved
it for being phenomenal in practically every game in the last season,
while Garcia scored essential goals against Juventus, Leverkusen and
Chelsea which helped us to the Champions League Final.

Good luck to Neil Mellor on going out on loan to Wigan. He’ll get a few
chances there and let’s not forget his goal against Arsenal last season
which gave Liverpool victory in front of the Kop. Also, Gerrard’s goal
against Olympiacos was expertly aided by Mellor and his goal earlier in
that game should not be forgotten.

And a mention for the Old Trafford game on Sunday. Win it, and we go above
the Scum and closer to Chelsea. Even if we draw it, we can still have a
potential 5 points on United with games in hand in mind. Just go out there
lads and put in your all, because I’m sure that along with Benitez’s
tactics, you’ll beat them – especially in midfield. Let’s go for the win
and bring back the good days; should we snap up Danny Murphy on a
one-match loan anyone?