A brilliant start by Liverpool in the Premier League is now relegated to a good start. Liverpool for the second time running fired a blank, and offered a performance that at best could be described as bleak, and more fittingly as frustrating and toothless. Last week’s failings against Portsmouth and last season’s limitations arose to the fore again, frustrating the reds on the pitch, the management and every red.
Rafa Benitez’s tinkering and squad rotation is expected and accepted up to a certain point. It is the new emperor’s clothes you might argue but the omission of Fernando Torres from the starting line-up still was taken badly and baffled many a red. Against a quite modest side like Birmingham who will value one point at Anfield as one priceless point rather than two lost, it will be the silky play and unpredictability of such players who will make all the difference and the thirty minutes cameo of the Spaniard proved that the first hour he spent on the bench were absolutely wasted, and the opposing Steve Bruce had every right to count his lucky stars when learning that El Nino is not starting and stretching his side.
Lately, Liverpool’s play have been rather strange. The first forty-five minutes against Porto in particular showed a jaded side to say the least, as I haven’t seen Liverpool getting outplayed in that way for a pretty long time. There is a certain lack of cohesion in the side and this late form really looks pale when compared to the early displays of Liverpool. The current form of Steven Gerrard may be one of the main reasons for this, Steven Gerrard at the minute looks tame when compared to the hungry and ‘I want it all’ attitude shown in the first couple of matches. Jermaine Pennant looks more like the early version of himself rather than the man-of-the-match version in the European Cup Final. I was expecting a great performance from him against Portsmouth, considering he had a lot of time at Melwood, rather than travelling around Europe on international duty. He disappointed on the day but a below par display was accepted after the early rich form and contribution. Against Porto though he again suffered, got frustrated, accepted their provocation and had an early shower leaving his mates weathering the tide of Porto attacks with a man handicap. Against his old team, he again never got going and never really offered the much needed width in Liverpool’s play to test Birmingham’s boundaries and subsequently their keeper Mark Taylor. That was the most disappointing aspect of the whole afternoon.
Maybe I am looking too much in detail, but it seems that Pako Ayestran’s services are getting quite missed now. The first time he was not on the bench next to Rafa, it was against Derby County and we all know the outcome of that. Probably though with him leaving only the day or so before, Liverpool were still bearing the fruit of his work. It must have a big row as the two have been working together for more than ten years, and the silence on it all has been too anomalous for my liking, a bit like a vintage wine served in a plastic cup. The work of such assistants can be easily underestimated and like Hamann used to be, only noticed with their absence.
Tomorrow, the reds will be travelling down South to the Madjeski Stadium to face Reading in the League Cup. The outcome of it all will not be too saying much about the current dip in form as the boss is expected to chop, rotate and give young lads their rare chance. The proper chance to announce that Liverpool are back will be next Saturday at Wigan away at the JJB Stadium. In the meantime we enjoy tomorrow’s clash as a side show.
Rafa Benitez’s tinkering and squad rotation is expected and accepted up to a certain point. It is the new emperor’s clothes you might argue but the omission of Fernando Torres from the starting line-up still was taken badly and baffled many a red. Against a quite modest side like Birmingham who will value one point at Anfield as one priceless point rather than two lost, it will be the silky play and unpredictability of such players who will make all the difference and the thirty minutes cameo of the Spaniard proved that the first hour he spent on the bench were absolutely wasted, and the opposing Steve Bruce had every right to count his lucky stars when learning that El Nino is not starting and stretching his side.
Lately, Liverpool’s play have been rather strange. The first forty-five minutes against Porto in particular showed a jaded side to say the least, as I haven’t seen Liverpool getting outplayed in that way for a pretty long time. There is a certain lack of cohesion in the side and this late form really looks pale when compared to the early displays of Liverpool. The current form of Steven Gerrard may be one of the main reasons for this, Steven Gerrard at the minute looks tame when compared to the hungry and ‘I want it all’ attitude shown in the first couple of matches. Jermaine Pennant looks more like the early version of himself rather than the man-of-the-match version in the European Cup Final. I was expecting a great performance from him against Portsmouth, considering he had a lot of time at Melwood, rather than travelling around Europe on international duty. He disappointed on the day but a below par display was accepted after the early rich form and contribution. Against Porto though he again suffered, got frustrated, accepted their provocation and had an early shower leaving his mates weathering the tide of Porto attacks with a man handicap. Against his old team, he again never got going and never really offered the much needed width in Liverpool’s play to test Birmingham’s boundaries and subsequently their keeper Mark Taylor. That was the most disappointing aspect of the whole afternoon.
Maybe I am looking too much in detail, but it seems that Pako Ayestran’s services are getting quite missed now. The first time he was not on the bench next to Rafa, it was against Derby County and we all know the outcome of that. Probably though with him leaving only the day or so before, Liverpool were still bearing the fruit of his work. It must have a big row as the two have been working together for more than ten years, and the silence on it all has been too anomalous for my liking, a bit like a vintage wine served in a plastic cup. The work of such assistants can be easily underestimated and like Hamann used to be, only noticed with their absence.
Tomorrow, the reds will be travelling down South to the Madjeski Stadium to face Reading in the League Cup. The outcome of it all will not be too saying much about the current dip in form as the boss is expected to chop, rotate and give young lads their rare chance. The proper chance to announce that Liverpool are back will be next Saturday at Wigan away at the JJB Stadium. In the meantime we enjoy tomorrow’s clash as a side show.
posted by jean paul at 7:30 pm
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