The players, increasingly tired, are beginning to show their fatigue and went through a worryingly rough patch, losing 3 in 4 (one against Charlton); however, they’ve now managed to redeem themselves in the last couple of games, snatching difficult but imperative 1-goal victories against top-half teams Wigan and the formerly invincible Arsenal. Where we go from here is certainly going to be down to the attitude of the group, but we all know that there will be one man so determined to finally beat Manchester United at the fifth time of trying that we needn’t worry about the amount of effort we’ll get from the lads; Rafa Benitez, sternly cold and hardworking, is one of the most purposeful mangers in the league and will look at win at all costs at the weekend, before doing exactly the same next week and the week after that.
In this issue, we’ll take a look at the Arsenal game just passed and all of the other happenings this week in the world of All Things Red.
The Match – vs. Arsenal (h)
Well, they say you’re only as good as your goalkeeper and boy did Arsenal need Jens Lehmann need to live up to his name on Tuesday night. If he’d had anything but the incredible game he had at Anfield, then we may well have defeated Arsenal by three or four; indeed, their goal was constantly and unflinchingly peppered with shots and their box decorated with cutting crosses and telling passes. Once more, however, the problem was clear: Liverpool’s attack lacks an edge, a sharpness which may eventually bring the team the goals that its efforts deserve, and Fernando Morientes has taken two, maybe even three, steps backwards since his promising patch in the second quarter of the season. The Spaniard can surely no longer complain about his physical condition, and if more than a year is not sufficient time in which you can become accustomed to the pace of the frenetic English battlefields, then you probably should not stay for much longer.
Benitez’s move for the player is understandable, given his track-record for goals and success, along with Liverpool’s lack of aerial threat up front from Cisse (who still can’t head a ball) and Baros last season. Yet Morientes, who seemed to come with a reputation of being strong, has appeared rather unhappy on the pitch, even meek, muscled off the ball from game to game by defenders he really should be able to stand up to. He’s scored only one goal with his head and yet that’s what his reputation in founded upon, and whilst crackers, such as his efforts against Fulham and Charlton last season, are always a good thing, Nando’s lack of goals this season is progressively concerning. His air-kicks in both halves against Arsenal, when he should have scored, were just further examples of why so many Liverpool fans are running out of time for the lad.
As for Robbie Fowler, he just isn’t fit yet. The frustrating thing is that even with a few extra pounds on his waist, he’s probably our best striking option and the chance he made for himself against Arsenal in the second half, pounded out spectacularly by the ‘keeper, shows just how much class the boy still has. With Kewell and Gerrard sending in pass after pass for the forwards, they were slightly outdone by Arsenal’s shaky but efficient centre-backs, although they did do several essential, indirect things for the team. Their pressure caused Senderos to flip the ball almost into his own net, but for the outstretched arm of Lehmann, whilst Morientes was aggressively shoved to the floor in the penalty area, an incident which led to Liverpool’s penalty.
Just as the kop held its breath, though, captain fantastic Gerrard’s placement was rather too central and the ‘keeper thumped away his pen before receiving the usual congratulations and thanks from his own relieved team mates. Toure went close at the other end, with Dudek pretty much beaten, and Harry Kewell capitalised on slack defending but fired a fiery volley yards wide on his right foot. Chances weren’t clear-cut though, and after the penalty things were relatively quiet, with Liverpool keeping possession capably and Xabi Alonso twisting and turning in the middle of the park to move the ball on from side to side, player to player.
The second half opened with more heroics from Lehmann as he saved the aforementioned Fowler effort. This was followed by a stern wave of jerky attacks from the Reds, with Morientes missing a decent headed chance and Sami Hyypia having a great header unceremoniously cleared by Ljungberg on the line. Harry Kewell, fitter and more dangerous than we’ve seen him for some time, continued to threaten on the wing and as time went on, his thrilling bicycle kick was again saved by the German goalkeeper and soon enough Momo Sissoko was taken off to be replaced by Luis Garcia as Liverpool looked for the win. Garcia, in strange places of late, has been told by Benitez to sort himself out physically before considering the footballing side of the game, and was lining up for the reserves a week or so ago. The little trickster can often spin a web of skills which eventually catches out not only the defenders, but himself too and his form has been very inconsistent this term, despite coming up with the goods on several occasions.
As Cisse bounded up and down the right with no real purpose, Garcia used his intelligence to be in the right place at the right time. Didi Hamann, brought on for the frail Alonso who received treatment on his ankle, hit a dangerous, bouncing 20-yard shot at his countryman, who could only parry the ball into the 6-yard area. Having had the night he’d had, I fully expected Lehmann to get back up and deny Garcia, who was running in for the rebound, but the Spaniard managed to expertly hammer the ball past the shot-stopper and into the far corner of the net. A goal up with minutes to go – a spot of déjà vu for the visitors who faced a similar situation last year after a Neil Mellor stunner. But Liverpool were well worth three points; all that they need to improve is their finishing, how clinical they are in front of goal, and soon enough the results will be fully back on track once more.
Player ratings: Dudek 6, Finnan 6, Hyypia 7, Carragher 8, Riise 7, Kewell 7, Gerrard 8, Alonso 9, Sissoko 7, Morientes 6, Fowler 7. Subs: Cisse 6, Hamann 7, Garcia 8.
Gabriel Paletta: FactFile
Announced this week was the signing of the Argentinean centre-back from Banfield, who will link up for the first time with his team mates in the summer at Melwood. But fans simply don’t know who he is; very few people do. Here’s a bit of information on him to enlighten those who want to know more about our latest capture.
- Paletta is built like an ox, tall but broad in structure with enormous strength. - 2005 was his first real season in football, excelling at the small Argentinean club Banfield and quickly becoming one of the most exciting defensible prospects in the country. - He is described as a ‘strong, rugged, no-nonsense centre back.’ - He has an eye for goal, is excellent in the air and can also play as a defensive midfielder. - River Plate thought they’d signed him, even reserving a shirt and announcing the signature on their official website. - In a poor team, Paletta was the defensive rock and ensured that Banfield lost only once in 19 league games. - He’s got a bit of a reputation for arguing with referees. - BBC’s South American football journalist, Tim Vickery (an expert on all things Argentinean) reckons that a switch to Liverpool after just one season in a poor league will be the wrong move and the defender’s growth will be stunted by the new culture, new game and new surroundings. - However, Paletta is so hotly-rated that going for him at any other time in the future would prove to be overly-expensive and all the more difficult.
All Things Red in short…
Congratulations to Adam Hammill and Calum Woods who this week graduated from the academy to Melwood. All the best and good luck, we hope to see you turning out at Anfield before too long.
Thank you to Bob Paisley. You deserve all of the credit which is coming your way this week and Liverpool fans around the world around love and respect you and your achievements at the club.
Every credit to Jerzy Dudek who has done us proud with his efforts in goal despite knowing that Reina will come straight back into the team.