When Liverpool beat Real madrid at Anfield, although well down on the goals count, Real Madrid cut through the middle of our defence with ease in the second half.
Lucas was brought on to shore up the midfield and still the run through and shots kept on coming.
Liverpool brought on Jay Spearing, within 10 minutes the breakaway attacks stopped. So much so, Spearing was often popping up in Real’s box and looking likely to score.
Last night against Arsenal, the opportunity for Liverpool to take all three points was there, they played fast attacking football, they had Arsenal under the kosh for long periods, but still only came away with a point.
This point now leaves Man Utd level with us, but with two games in hand and surely the league title.
Arshavin is a class player, but even he would admit at the surprise of just how much space he was allowed. Four goals at Anfield is a wonderful performance, even sky sports news reported that he had only 5 touches all game. (He’s even in my fantasy football team – as a sub last night!)
Liverpool are not in a position for league challenges as I hope this season will make clear.
During the 1970s-80s, Man Utd were as Liverpoool are today, a few big names, but average in other areas. They tried to buy in big names in various positions, etc, as a result they were mocked for trying to buy the League title.
It never worked, even their first title win back in the early days of the premiership, came more by accident than plan.
Early in the season, Man Utd had some serious injuries to key players, Fergie was forced to promote a group of Youth cup winners into the first team.
They have never looked back, having seen the light and the way that great Liverpool teams of the past came about, find them young, promote them steadily to the first team and watch them grow in stature, brings success and continued success at that.
Liverpool have a similar set up, excellent young players, youth cup winning side, yet rarely have they managed a game for the first team. Carragher and Gerrard have many fans and we are forever being told how vital they are to the team, home grown talent who have passion, heart and skill, they drive the team and inspire the so called “big names” that are bought for millions of pounds, not against the big clubs, but when you are away to Bolton on a wet wednesday night in December, for example.
Liverpool need to wake up, if you only lose two games in the league all season and still cannot win the title, this must show that the title cannot be bought.
Get a style of play and stick to it, keep the regulars in the team, stop resting players and chopping and changing the side. How can a left back develop an understanding of how a left winger plays, if either of both only play 1 game in 3?
How can any player get “match fit” if they only ever play 70 minutes, before being substituted?
Create an atmosphere where players are battling for positions, if Agger is playing well and scoring goals, don’t “save him” for a league match, by dropping him for a champions league game, play him in all games until he has a couple of bad games, then give someone else a chance.
