I have really fallen behind now, going four matches on a row without penning a single word about the mighty reds. Thing is though I was pretty busy with our local magazine Anfield Island and my writing appetite got rather burnt out. It is a pity really as the four matches included three wins and a sole draw, so really I should have been itching to write on what I have just witnessed.
Against PSV at the Philips Stadion, Liverpool just breezed through. They never really blitzed the Dutch as the three-nil scoreline might suggest but they made enough to register a superb victory on foreign soil which made it even sweeter considering it is a quarter-final and the opponents represent the Arsenal conquerors. A cross by Steve Finnan, after a tidy one-two with Javier Mascherano was met by a Stevie Gerrard header which was too much for their usually agile keeper. Their keeper Gomes proved his agility over a Jamie Carragher header before but was caught out this time. Then again he was beaten hands down by a John Arne Riise scorcher, but honestly two world class keepers at the same time would not have kept that out. A poor clearance was chested by the Norwegian, he let the ball bounce kindly for him and then just unleashed a left shot which simply swerved through the net. Right out of the top drawer stuff! Peter Crouch then confirmed his rich vein of form, by heading another Steve Finnan cross into the left side of the keeper's corner. It was a perfect, breezeless night where Liverpool just sprayed the ball around and Javier Mascherano had his best match in a Liverpool shirt, reminding everyone that has been a squad member in the talented Argentinian squad and Rafael Benitez's insistence of bringing the lad at Anfield and challenging FIFA's bureaucracies has given yet another top result. The only damp accident of the match was Fabio Aurelio's injury when unchallenged and untouched he fell like a heap which indicated the gravity of the situation as soon as he hit the turf. It was a pity seeing him in such pain and writing him his season off after playing his best football so far in a Liverpool shirt.
Four days later, Liverpool travelled down South for their first ever match at the Madjeski Stadium against Reading. And for the third time in as many matches, Liverpool recorded a victory over Steve Coppell's side.
The mighty reds had a great start, with Alvaro Arebeloa scoring his first goal in a red shirt, much better than Rob Jones isn't he? He won a header in his own penalty area, carried the ball half the pitch, erred in his passes but still picked the clearance, done a one-two with Crouch and bang there he got his first Liverpool goal when on a one-on-one with the keeper he put the ball into the net with a coolness of a seasoned striker.
Reading came back strongly in the second half and it was no surprise that Liverpool conceded. The clock got ticking away and seemed another two points lost away from home but the two subs Jermaine Pennant and Dirk Kuyt made the difference. Just four minutes from time Jermaine Pennant took on his opponent and crossed to Dirk Kuyt with the Dutch simply heading into the net.
For a change, Liverpool scored and made the difference in the dying minutes and ensured a Happy Easter!
Just three days later Liverpool had to face PSV at Anfield, which realistically was only a formality. Rafael Benitez warned against complacency but admitted that this is a position he has no complaints about being in. In the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final, Liverpool afforded resting both Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
Obviously the match lacked the tension usually attributed to European ties at Anfield, and instead the Kop got in a party mood, chanting the gaffer's name incessantly. The favourite Kop son, Robbie Fowler also made a rare appearance as he subbed Craig Bellamy after the latter taking a knock after only seventeen minutes.
With his back to the goal and his striking partner, he presented Peter Crouch with a golden chance which he could not miss and thus confirmed the obvious - it is a case of who will we get in the semi-finals rather than if we qualify!
The fears of a Benfica repeat proved well wide off the mark and instead reminded us of Bayer Leverkusen when on the way to Istanbul.
The Kop party mood seems to have got to the players too as the European hangover raised his head again on the following Saturday against Manchester City. Not even the unusual Manchester sun could raise the spirits in what was another dull match where Liverpool gave the impression that third or fourth place in the Premiership match doesn't really make much of difference. Added to it the fact that there is the small matter of Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals in a fortnight's time and you reluctantly sympathise.
To be fair, Liverpool have had a couple of decent chances in the first forty-five minutes, the biggest chance falling into Jermaine Pennant's feet which might have also resulted into a penalty.
Still, it was a match you'd rather forget and at the end I got the impression that Liverpool were happy with the one point. Hopefully, in the familiar surroundings of Anfield against Middlesbrough and then Wigan should result in the familiar three points at home.
Against PSV at the Philips Stadion, Liverpool just breezed through. They never really blitzed the Dutch as the three-nil scoreline might suggest but they made enough to register a superb victory on foreign soil which made it even sweeter considering it is a quarter-final and the opponents represent the Arsenal conquerors. A cross by Steve Finnan, after a tidy one-two with Javier Mascherano was met by a Stevie Gerrard header which was too much for their usually agile keeper. Their keeper Gomes proved his agility over a Jamie Carragher header before but was caught out this time. Then again he was beaten hands down by a John Arne Riise scorcher, but honestly two world class keepers at the same time would not have kept that out. A poor clearance was chested by the Norwegian, he let the ball bounce kindly for him and then just unleashed a left shot which simply swerved through the net. Right out of the top drawer stuff! Peter Crouch then confirmed his rich vein of form, by heading another Steve Finnan cross into the left side of the keeper's corner. It was a perfect, breezeless night where Liverpool just sprayed the ball around and Javier Mascherano had his best match in a Liverpool shirt, reminding everyone that has been a squad member in the talented Argentinian squad and Rafael Benitez's insistence of bringing the lad at Anfield and challenging FIFA's bureaucracies has given yet another top result. The only damp accident of the match was Fabio Aurelio's injury when unchallenged and untouched he fell like a heap which indicated the gravity of the situation as soon as he hit the turf. It was a pity seeing him in such pain and writing him his season off after playing his best football so far in a Liverpool shirt.
Four days later, Liverpool travelled down South for their first ever match at the Madjeski Stadium against Reading. And for the third time in as many matches, Liverpool recorded a victory over Steve Coppell's side.
The mighty reds had a great start, with Alvaro Arebeloa scoring his first goal in a red shirt, much better than Rob Jones isn't he? He won a header in his own penalty area, carried the ball half the pitch, erred in his passes but still picked the clearance, done a one-two with Crouch and bang there he got his first Liverpool goal when on a one-on-one with the keeper he put the ball into the net with a coolness of a seasoned striker.
Reading came back strongly in the second half and it was no surprise that Liverpool conceded. The clock got ticking away and seemed another two points lost away from home but the two subs Jermaine Pennant and Dirk Kuyt made the difference. Just four minutes from time Jermaine Pennant took on his opponent and crossed to Dirk Kuyt with the Dutch simply heading into the net.
For a change, Liverpool scored and made the difference in the dying minutes and ensured a Happy Easter!
Just three days later Liverpool had to face PSV at Anfield, which realistically was only a formality. Rafael Benitez warned against complacency but admitted that this is a position he has no complaints about being in. In the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final, Liverpool afforded resting both Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
Obviously the match lacked the tension usually attributed to European ties at Anfield, and instead the Kop got in a party mood, chanting the gaffer's name incessantly. The favourite Kop son, Robbie Fowler also made a rare appearance as he subbed Craig Bellamy after the latter taking a knock after only seventeen minutes.
With his back to the goal and his striking partner, he presented Peter Crouch with a golden chance which he could not miss and thus confirmed the obvious - it is a case of who will we get in the semi-finals rather than if we qualify!
The fears of a Benfica repeat proved well wide off the mark and instead reminded us of Bayer Leverkusen when on the way to Istanbul.
The Kop party mood seems to have got to the players too as the European hangover raised his head again on the following Saturday against Manchester City. Not even the unusual Manchester sun could raise the spirits in what was another dull match where Liverpool gave the impression that third or fourth place in the Premiership match doesn't really make much of difference. Added to it the fact that there is the small matter of Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals in a fortnight's time and you reluctantly sympathise.
To be fair, Liverpool have had a couple of decent chances in the first forty-five minutes, the biggest chance falling into Jermaine Pennant's feet which might have also resulted into a penalty.
Still, it was a match you'd rather forget and at the end I got the impression that Liverpool were happy with the one point. Hopefully, in the familiar surroundings of Anfield against Middlesbrough and then Wigan should result in the familiar three points at home.
posted by jean paul at 10:36 pm
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