So why can’t we score more goals? The answer is simple and definitive and we all know what it is: Liverpool haven’t got a ‘goalscorer.’ Maybe our two strikers do spend a lot of time in their own half defending when the team doesn’t have the ball, but that is the hallmark of a Benitez team: everybody must defend properly in order to keep the team in shape, a lesson Djibril Cisse is apparently taking a very long time to learn. Morientes is simply not enigmatic, quick or strong enough to deal with his job, as he defends with brilliant commitment but cannot do the business at the other end due to the fact that he isn’t a ‘goalscorer’ in the right place at the right time.
On top of this, his overall contribution to the team’s play is simply not up there with that of Crouch and therefore it is very difficult to see a reason for his continued inclusion. Other, that is, than the fact that Cisse is probably no better and there is always some regularly spoken-of hope around Anfield that the Spaniard will one day regain the form which would showcase the bags of class that he has for all to see. That day is becoming less and less likely with each match though, and Liverpool are not scoring enough goals.
The solution? Buy players who have scored goals before, and in the Premiership. There is some taboo about buying players from clubs lower than us in the table (amongst some fans anyway) – people seem to prefer to go abroad and bring in successful young strikers such as Dirk Kuyt. Now don’t get me wrong, he may come and be class but don’t forget about Kezman, who also had a fantastic scoring record in the far inferior Dutch league. Accidents like Morientes and Cisse happen because they are successful stars in the slower European leagues, where attacking play in made easier by a longer amount of time on the ball, and in France and other relatively poor leagues, a low standard of defenders. Players who score many goals abroad are always attractive, but why not go for players at home who consistently bag goals at this level and in this faster, more competitive league? Look at Yakubu, a goalscorer with two poor teams in Portsmouth and Middlesbrough; imagine him getting the service from a Gerrard or a Kewell.
Defoe is another option, even Darren Bent. These guys are fast, strong, and know what England is all about. They’re English goalscorers. Then, look at Michael Owen, a man who betrayed the club and obviously has his injury problems; but he also scored bucket-loads for us, a goal a game for Real Madrid and even a fair few for Newcastle, a poor team who struggle to create great openings. Players like Owen don’t actually need chances, they just need sniffs, and if our team is to start being serious challengers for the Premiership title then we need a hard-working player to come and score goals for us on a weekly basis, something we have lacked for two years now.
Only then will the function of Rafa Benitez’s team truly be transparent and only then will we finish off teams we dominate from start to finish instead of becoming nervous or dropping points due to a lack of goals. Only then will we be a truly great, modern footballing team. But the good news is that summer is just around the corner and these problems can soon be addressed head-on by the man who already knows fully that they exist, Rafael Benitez. After that, Liverpool can begin to strive for perfection and, eventually, begin to make giant leaps towards thoroughly challenging Chelsea at the helm of English football.
Momo Sissoko
I’d just like to take the time to remember Momo Sissoko, a young person on the verge of losing a considerable slice of his career, if not its entirety. Not only this, but his sight is horrifically damaged, an abhorrent thing for any human to bear, especially at such a young age. The lad has so much quality and recently shone particularly against Manchester United in the FA Cup; with his performances this season being as good as they have been who can say where this lad might not end up in the future? He is, without doubt, the only player a Liverpool manager has ever compared to Patrick Vieira who looks as though he may live up to the tag. We all wish you the best Momo, and you know that You’ll Never Walk Alone, no matter what happens with your career.
Anfield Complaints
I’ve noticed in recent weeks that more and more fans have voiced their concerns on the internet about the state of the atmosphere at Anfield in recent games. I was there on Sunday against Manchester City and the place was like a graveyard, I admit it. Even sat on the Kop, you felt slightly embarrassed when singing because there was nobody else around you even making an effort; at one point, a lad of about 7 sitting in front of me joined in with a meagre chorus of ‘When the Reds go Marching in,’ only to blurt out the first words of a second refrain entirely on his own, the other participants halting altogether. Whilst this misdemeanour caused much laughter in the surrounding rows, it demonstrated the fact that the Kop simply doesn’t sing properly during average, run-of-the-mill matches such as the one against Manchester City and only really enthuses over the big ones against Arsenal and Manchester United (as we saw/heard recently).
The problem with moaning about this is that is has been happening for a long time. The moaning, that is. I remember being on the internet 5 years ago, 6 years ago, and reading concerned posts with plenty of replies in agreement on the subject of Anfield’s continuing slump. Nobody can say, in truth, whether or not the atmosphere’s quality has been reducing for that long, but what you can say is that it is a bit embarrassing to hear opposing fans mocking the Kop in a singing voice much louder than it itself could muster.
I don’t think that there’s any connection with the increase in non-Liverpudlians watching the Reds at home at all, and I detest that suggestion. It is so, so easy to create this scapegoat of so-called ‘Out of towners’ and lay the blame for a quiet Kop squarely on their heads. What real Liverpool fans should do next time they are at Anfield is just make an effort. I don’t mean get up and start singing on your own, I mean at least clap along or sing quietly along with those who initiate the chants at the top of the stand, and eventually you may persuade a few shy ones next door to do the same. Being a cynic and just sitting down, saying ‘Quiet, innit?’ will not help and only makes it worse, so let’s all do better next time we go and put in effort whilst watching Liverpool play, in return for the effort the players invariably give us in every match.
The Final Word: Liverpool 1 vs. Manchester City 0 (h)
Overall, the performance from the lads was fairly good, as usual. Daniel Agger was caught napping once and gave the ball away a couple of times, but was exemplary other than that and has very assured distribution with both feet. His tackling is solid and the Dane is visibly a tough competitor, winning the ball cleanly from Barton only to feel the City man’s studs thump into his thigh moments later. No sooner had the foul taken place than Agger was up, though, and he patted Barton on the back as if to say ‘you’ll have to do a bit better than that, mate.’ He’s not bad in the air and will only get stronger as he gets older and wiser within the field of play.
Crouch had a good game and was audacious enough to try a Brazilian-style flick in an attempt to score, missing unluckily by inches. He also hit the bar and grappled well with the indefatigable Distin, winning a few flick ons and causing his expected fair share of problems. Gerrard was superb in charging through the middle but also held his position well, not trying the spectacular and almost scoring with a great run, only to be tackled expertly by Richard Dunne. Morientes was poor once more, despite a high work-rate, and Kewell took his goal well despite being slightly wasteful on several occasions. Hamann was astute as usual and conserved energy whilst winning the ball back in all the right places, whilst Kromkamp impressed in his right wing position, making himself constantly available on the flank and demonstrating good speed, strength and distribution at several intervals. We needed more goals, as Rafa commented after the match, but it was a hard-earned three points which we certainly deserved.
Player Ratings: Reina 7, Hyypia 8, Agger 7, Finnan 7, Riise 7, Gerrard 8, Alonso 6, Kewell 7, Morientes 6, Crouch 8, Kromkamp 7.5. Subs: Hamann 7, Garcia 6, Traore 6.