The red shorts looked out of place with the grey shirts, probably thanks to an over meticulous referee who was afraid Liverpool’s usual away grey shorts would confuse him with Arsenal’s white shorts. As much as the red shorts looked out of place though, by the end of the match it was the grey Liverpool tops that looked spot on the verdict of the match. Neither white nor black. Such is life, far from a tabloid headline, there are an awful number of ways to look into this 1-1 result at the Emirates. And such has been the constant verdict of the so far life on top for Liverpool. An excuse has always been forthcoming to excuse Liverpool’s name at the top on the black on white table.
Alongside Rafael Benitez, Javier Mascherano stayed at home. Lucas Leiva filled in admirably, even though like the former’s messages on a mobile phone could never be the same as the real thing. Such a game would have been tailor made for the qualities and spirit of the Argentinean. Dirk Kuyt though once again proved in concrete terms that such a game is his perfect type, as much as a queen bee stinging an intruder, there sweating it out, helping his left-back while harrying the opposing right-back, that at one time looked to bring the goods if only Steven Gerrard connected properly with an open goal at his mercy, with his diagonal pass after winning what would be in the Emirates an unorthodox ball.
As much as I am talking of hard work though, it was two moments of superlative footballing ability that gave the score-line credence. Firstly it was Van Persie who arrested a ball sublimely while taking neither Daniel Agger nor Jamie Carragher as prisoners. After such chest control he let the ball bounce and coolly smashed beyond Pepe Reina. Sometimes you have to make do with geniality.
Robbie Keane’s goal was not too far from the exquisiteness of the Dutchman’s, even though containing a couple of handmade touches. Daniel Agger looked to clear overboard that prompted the usual ‘hoof’ cry from the usual quiet Arsenal crowd. With the ball though bouncing over his shoulder Keane showed the single mindedness of a hungry beast getting its prey. Surrounded by a couple of Gunners he outpaced them, forgot them and with his eyes firmly on the ball he connected perfectly to outshoot the keeper. It was one of those moments where all the doubts of the previous months were forgotten and for a split second we believed that there would be only one outcome and eventually it did happen with aplomb.
The half-time whistle only postponed Liverpool’s ascendancy. Coming back from the dressing-room, Liverpool continued where they have left and forced the usually flamboyant Arsenal looking for their shells. It didn’t last till the end though and it slowed paradoxically when Arsenal had Adebayor sent off, admittedly harshly. The Liverpool substitutions showed a will to get the full points from the fixture but objectively they were rather late and all three lacked the ability to have a stamp of authority that could wrap up such a fixture. Ryan Babel was decidedly wasteful in his first touches, and improved too late, while N’Gog and Nabil El Zhar look more as lucky charms than bankers.
It has been then been declared a grey result, but like yesterday’s Liverpool away top, the grey is very light and the sweat could be easily traced. What cannot be argued against though that is the seventh point from three matches in the exclusive league of the English Champions League’s representatives.
Alongside Rafael Benitez, Javier Mascherano stayed at home. Lucas Leiva filled in admirably, even though like the former’s messages on a mobile phone could never be the same as the real thing. Such a game would have been tailor made for the qualities and spirit of the Argentinean. Dirk Kuyt though once again proved in concrete terms that such a game is his perfect type, as much as a queen bee stinging an intruder, there sweating it out, helping his left-back while harrying the opposing right-back, that at one time looked to bring the goods if only Steven Gerrard connected properly with an open goal at his mercy, with his diagonal pass after winning what would be in the Emirates an unorthodox ball.
As much as I am talking of hard work though, it was two moments of superlative footballing ability that gave the score-line credence. Firstly it was Van Persie who arrested a ball sublimely while taking neither Daniel Agger nor Jamie Carragher as prisoners. After such chest control he let the ball bounce and coolly smashed beyond Pepe Reina. Sometimes you have to make do with geniality.
Robbie Keane’s goal was not too far from the exquisiteness of the Dutchman’s, even though containing a couple of handmade touches. Daniel Agger looked to clear overboard that prompted the usual ‘hoof’ cry from the usual quiet Arsenal crowd. With the ball though bouncing over his shoulder Keane showed the single mindedness of a hungry beast getting its prey. Surrounded by a couple of Gunners he outpaced them, forgot them and with his eyes firmly on the ball he connected perfectly to outshoot the keeper. It was one of those moments where all the doubts of the previous months were forgotten and for a split second we believed that there would be only one outcome and eventually it did happen with aplomb.
The half-time whistle only postponed Liverpool’s ascendancy. Coming back from the dressing-room, Liverpool continued where they have left and forced the usually flamboyant Arsenal looking for their shells. It didn’t last till the end though and it slowed paradoxically when Arsenal had Adebayor sent off, admittedly harshly. The Liverpool substitutions showed a will to get the full points from the fixture but objectively they were rather late and all three lacked the ability to have a stamp of authority that could wrap up such a fixture. Ryan Babel was decidedly wasteful in his first touches, and improved too late, while N’Gog and Nabil El Zhar look more as lucky charms than bankers.
It has been then been declared a grey result, but like yesterday’s Liverpool away top, the grey is very light and the sweat could be easily traced. What cannot be argued against though that is the seventh point from three matches in the exclusive league of the English Champions League’s representatives.
posted by jean paul at 6:08 pm
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