Fernando Torres: First player to score 2 goals in 4 consecutive matches at Anfield! ©Gettyimages

It was a European night in Anfield, but not in the usual competition as it’s the first time in Rafa’s reign that the club has participated in the Europa League, a competition last won by Gerard Houllier in 2000-01 season under the old name, UEFA Cup.

The team lined up in Rafa’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation with Pepe in goal. The defence featured an unorthodox backline consisting of Agger who was assigned the left back position, Kyrgiakos and Carragher in the middle with Johnson on the right back position. Insua having collected his second yellow card in the first leg of the tie, necessitated the reshuffled defensive lineup. The midfield also had to re-jig due to the unavailability of Maxi Rodriguez as he is cup-tied, having played for Athletico Madrid in the group phases. The midfield line-up was the usual Benayoun  (to replace the suspended Babel due to his sending off in the first leg), Mascherano, Lucas and Kuyt whilst Gerrard was up-front supporting the lone striker, Torres.

Benfica started better than Liverpool as the boys were rather tentative and had a to work hard to neutralise a couple of dangerous chances that fell to the visiting side . The Reds uncharacteristically started slowly but eventually got the break that the team needed when a corner was awarded on the 27^th minute. Gerrard’s floated cross was headed into goal but the linesman on the far side raised his flag for reasons only known to him as both the ref and the goal  lines-man (is this what we call these guys now-a days?) agree that it was not an off-side and the goal stood.

Two minutes later, Gerrard played a superb through ball to Lucas who then with consummate ease feint a pass and slotted past Julio Cesar for his first goal in 11months. 2-0 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate but it is not yet over as any goal from Benfica would even out the tie and wipe out Liverpool’s away goal advantage. Benfica did not give up and still tried to play their way into the game although Pepe was rather pedestrian between the sticks in the first half.

Liverpool’s deserved third goal arrived around the hour mark from a swift counter-attack. Lucas was struck between the legs as the Reds defended a free-kick inside the penalty box. As the ball rolled to Mascherano, he found Benayoun racing towards the Benfica half. The Israeli international then spread the ball wide to Kuyt, whose first-time cross was swept in by the on rushing Torres. Counter-attacking football at speed and at its best! Kuyt though, should be commended for his quality first time pass to Torres who had the easiest task of  tapping the ball into an open goal.

Benfica did pulled one goal back to set-up a tense final 20 minutes as a result of a free-kick taken by Cardozo, who struck the free-kick that took a deflection off Gerrard to elude the diving Pepe. Score was 4-3 to Liverpool and another goal for the visitors would even the tie at 4-4 and the favoured away goal ensure that they would qualify instead.

Luckily there was no sting in the tail as Liverpool continued to pressure for another goal and when Mascherano won possession in midfield, he cleverly lobbed the ball over the Benfica defence and Torres was through on a one-one with the keeper.  “El Nino” duly obliged the Kop with a sumptuous finish by chipping the ball over the on rushing keeper and secured the tie for Liverpool a 5-3 aggregate win.

All the men in RED played their hearts out! Kyrgiakos had a good game and managed to subdue Cardozo throughout the match with minimal mistakes and was everywhere in the back line to help snuff out the Benfica threat. Lucas had a very good game and scored his first goal for the club this season. Mascherano was at his biting best and hounded Pablo Aimar and Angel Di Maria out of the game.

Liverpool are now 2 matches away from the final and will meet Atlectico Madrid, Torres’s and Rodriguez’s former employers. If only Liverpool had played with this believe earlier in the season, we might have still been in the chase. But alas, Liverpool have to concentrate on Europa Cup (in its first re-incarnation) and the race for a top 4 Champions League position finish in the next few weeks.

-Will Tan-

However, on paper at least, Liverpool are capable of going on a winning run all the way until the end of the season against lower-ranked teams while Tottenham and Man City still have big games against the top 3. At time of writing, Liverpool lie 6th, behind Spurs and City who have 1 and 2 games in hand respectively.

Liverpool fans at The Library, e@Curve. Photo by Tan Pei Ru.

On a positive note, it was encouraging to note the sizable number of Liverpool fans who showed up at the Library today for the live viewing. Despite the forgettable season, folks still stood strong behind the team and hoping for a repeat of last season’s 4-1 stuffing of the Mancs on their home turf.

We were also very encouraged with sales of the Shankly “50th Anniversary” and “Torresism” t-shirts during the event.

Haven’t got yours yet? We’ve fittings from XS (for the cute ladies) all the way to XXL (for the macho males) still in stock, but running out fast. RM 35 for the Shankly white, and RM 32 for the Torres red tee.

You can get them either from our next live viewing (to be confirmed) or arrange for a custom delivery (Poslaju or pick-up). For enquiries, feel free to post them on the forum or write to info@my-rawk.com.

Liverpool started the match knowing that conceding another goal to Lille would probably a bridge too far as Liverpool would have to win by 2 goals due to the advantage of an away goal to Lille. Rafa opted for Riena, Johnson, Carra, Agger, Insua, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Babel, Gerrard and Torres due to the unavailability of the Italian prince, Aquilani due to a bug and Rodriguez due to ineligibility in this season’s Europa Cup as the latter had already represented Athletico Madrid. Anfield also had a special guest in the Argentinian legend, Maradona who was present to check personally on Mascherano and Insua. He was greeted in the Directors’ box by Maxi.

Liverpool started tentatively but managed to create an opening on the ninth minute when Lucas burst through to goal only to be clipped by Rami and the Ref had option but to award a penalty to Liverpool. Gerrard duly converted the penalty sending Landreau the wrong way to the delight of the Kop.

It was a good first half performance although Lille were dangerous on the break especially when 19 year Belgian, Eden Hazard broke free from the middle and duly charged through on a one-on-one with Pepe but somehow managed to deflect the chipped shot off his chin! What a let-off and what a save by Pepe to keep Liverpool ahead on the night and level on aggregate.

Just shortly after half-time in a lighting counter attack by Liverpool, Babel (yes, he played well and contributed defensively too!!) launched a clearance which evade Rami (who conceded the 1st half penalty on Lucas) which allowed Torres a clear run onto Landreau’s goal and with Cejdrou trailing in his footsteps, Torres with all the calmness of mind, dinked the ball over the on-rushing keeper to make it 2-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate sending the Kop into rapture and madness in celebration.

Eventhough Lille were 2-0 down on the night, they were in with a chance as another would draw the aggregate score level and they would go through due to the advantage of an away-goal and they were playing with confidence and purpose. There were several close calls during the 2nd half although they almost scored.

Kuyt unleasehed several shots from outside the penalty box and Landreau was upto to it and palmed them away for corners. In the final minutes, in a scene accumtomed to by the Liverpool fans, Kuyt disposed the Chedjou and turned to ball to Lucas who then immediately lashed the ball to Gerrard who unleashed his trademark venom shot which Landreau did well to palm it but fortunately for Liverpool, Torres was on hand to shot the ball over the keeper and his defenders on the line. Game over and Liverpool qualified for the quarterfinals of the Europa Cup.

It was a difficult match and fairly even and the difference was that man called Fernando Torres and if he had been in the opposition instead, then Lille could easily have trouced Liverpool. Kudos to Lille who played very well over the 2 legs and showed that the French (and some Belgians too) are on the up again.

We should also be thankful for Rafa as he manage to hold his team together and overcome a stubborn and technically and tactically well-honed team in Lille. Next up in the Europa Cup is Benfica in the quarter-finals who defeated us in 2006 in the champions league – expect another bruising encounter although we will have the advantage of playing at Anfield in the 2nd leg.

But first, Rafa and his merry men will have to deal with SAF at Old Trafford this weekend.

Stephen Pienaar's second yellow card to join the ever growing ranks of players sent off in the Merseyside derby. Photo via Liverpoolfc.tv

The most fiery derby fixture in the Barclays Premier League supported by the highest number of sending offs especially in the last 5 derbies between the two teams! Martin Atkinson was the referee for the game and it must be said that he did play his part in continuing the tradition of the match by allowing tackles after tackles which were yellows and not reigning in those challenges from both sides. Certainly, both sets of players were instead encouraged by Atkinson’s leniency and hence the match become a gentle version of Rollerball (James Caan 1970’s version, not the lame 2000 version!).

Our Greek defender, Kyrgiakos’s two footed challenge on Fellani was deffo a red card. Kyrgiakos has no business going in two-footed as it has been the rule now for two-footed challenges even if he had won it fair and square. However, Fellani should have also been sent off when he showed his studs on Kyrgiakos in the same incident.

But Fellani was not only guilty of the incident with Kyrgiakos but he had earlier kicked Kuyt in the face when the latter was down after the whistle and lucky referee, Atkinson did not spot it. Pineear himself was no angel as well as he had the worst tackle of the match on Mascherano and got away with it. It’s amazing that only Kyrgiakos and Pineear was sent off at the end andthere were no further casualties.

From the moment Kyrgiakos was sent off, there was only going to be one winner – the team that scores from a set-piece as it was hardly a match going on. From a corner, Gerrard delivered his trademark swerving ball into the centre and Kuyt was tussling with Phil Neville as well as Tim Howard but somehow, managed to squeeze between two and glace the ball into the empty net for a one goal lead and down to ten (10) men.

The Everton players tried their best to trouble Pepe in our goal but never came close to it as they resorted to long balls which were brilliantly handled by Carragher (replaced Kyrgiakos in the middle after the latter’s sending off) and Agger in the middle of the park. Compeleing the backline were Mascherano (After Kyrgiakos’s sending off!) and Insua on the opposite end.

Bruised, battered and kicked but the Red men did not blink. Instead, it inspired the Red men to raise their efforts and battle harder than ever for the Red half of Merseyside and their much-maligned manager, Rafa Benitez. Not much football on display at Anfield this time but this is Bloodsport Derby, the mother of all Derbies. Plenty of heart and endeavours and minimal tactics on display as Everton resorted to long balls as the match wore on. And the frustrations boiled over for the men in Blue and Pienaar continued the latest trend in the Mersey Derby by getting himself sent off for a second bookable offence as he clanged late into Gerrard late in extra time.

With another 3 points in the pocket, Rafa’s men will be looking for another 3 points from Wednesday night’s big away clash with the Gunners (why the hell on earth would they play these ‘BIG’ matches on a weekday? Its beyond logic!) would set us up nicely for the following home game against Manchester City.

Written by,

William Tan

Kuyt scores 2! Relief At Last For Rafa?

The built-up to the match was increased ten-folds by the British media preying for Rafa’s head especially with rumours that Guus Hiddink and even The Special One, Jose Mourinho purportedly interested and in line to take over once the manager’s seat is vacant. Further pressure was piled on Rafa especially when the book-makers reduced the odds of Rafa getting the sack immediately should Liverpool fail to beat Spurs. Never before has a Liverpool manager been sacked in mid-season and the Kopites wasn’t going to nothing about it and let it happen. The hardcore Kopites, on seeing the injustice brought on their beloved Rafa instead, came out in full force to show their ‘Scouse Solidarity’ for Rafa, his background team as well as with the players as they arrived at Anfield for the match. This was probably the right tonic needed for the players.

It was a surprise line-up from Rafa as it read:-
Reina, Carragher (captain), Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Insua, Lucas, Mascherano, Riera, Degen, Aquilani and Kuyt.

Old ‘arry Redknapp could not have asked for a ‘weaker’ line-up especially without Gerrard, Torres, Agger, Benayoun and Johnson. The main surprise was that Kuyt was going to be the man up front with Aquilani in the hole whilst Degen and Riera will provide support by coming in deep from the opposite end. Some of the journalist might have been quietly confident about writing an obituary for Senor Rafa and probably already half way through the main text anyway.

Instead, the Kop had rocked loud and clear and it was reminiscent of a European Cup tie rather than a mundane BPL league match but it did not matter as the Scouse Solidarity was there to support Rafa and the players. Anfield was abuzz with the support for the players. Even Steven Gerrard who is currently out with injured hamstring was in the stands boy it must have been an unusual experience for the Captain Gerrard who would usually be in the field instead of enjoying this spectacle on the stands. It probably reinforced that his decision to stay was the correct in view of his clarification that there was no bust-up with Rafa and that he’d be in Anfield for a long time.

A quick team huddle in the pitch before kick-off and already the commentators were rubbing their hands gleefully in hope that the night would end with Rafa’s head on the floor. They were in for a big surprise ……

The team played with a new fervour not seen in Rafa’s team this season (except maybe the Man Utd game & 1^st half of Arsenal game). The team played with gutso and believe that belie their position of 4 points behind Spurs and several rungs below them.

In a rare show of nerves, Pepe dropped a low cross from the left and needed to react quickly to recover as Defoe was lurking. Immediately, Pepe pumped the ball upfront for Kuyt who chested the ball down to the on-rushing Aquilani who took the ball on his stride before releasing it gently to setup Kuyt for his shot on to goal to beat the despairing dive of Gomes for Liverpool’s first goal on the 6^th minute. Aquilani was hurt as he played to setup Kuyt’s goal when Dawson tackled from behind and took Aquilani’s ankle. Aquilani required treatment for the tackle and Dawson was unpunished for his misdeed. Kuyt’s goal. Anfield were at fever pitch now and every player in Red had an extra spring to their step and movement and the believe returned to the team with each and every pass.

From one of the corners, Kyrgiakos and Crouch tussled for the ball and there were plenty of shirt pulling but fortunately for Liverpool, Howard Webb did not see it that way and Crouch was adjudged to have fouled Kyrgiakos instead.

The 2^nd half was more exciting as Spurs had to pour men forward to look for an equalizer but the Liverpool back four held firm and limited Spurs to few shots from outside the penalty box. Kyrgiakos had another slip-up when he under hit a pass to Pepe Reina with Defoe lurking and somehow managed dispossess Pepe and drive the ball over the line but fortunately, the linesman gave an offside as Defoe was coming back from an offside position.

In the 2^nd half, the returning Reira could have doubled the lead for us but just a fraction too high and the header rebounded off Gomes’ crossbar and Spurs were able to clear to safety. Reira also showed what the team had missed from him as his delivery from crosses and set-pieces were dangerous as it was driven in with pace and swerve and had Gomes flapping a few times.

Degen showed that he can also play on the wings and have the appetite for BPL games as he got stuck in and getting an earful from Carragher in the process. Degen’s speed caused issues for Spurs as he was continually hacked down by the Spurs midfield and defenders.

Degen, Kuyt and Kyrgiakos had wasted some good chances when they rushed their shots and wasted them. The crowd had begun to worry about another late sting in the tail as the second goal was not forthcoming eventhough we were the better team and creating various chances.

Aquilani also played his heart out and most times were spent helping out the midfield to check the Spurs attack and he showed some nice touches and some ‘hollywood’ spray passes which unfortunately Kuyt was too slow to respond to. Aquilani was subbed (on the 79^th minute by Ngog) and you could see he was knackered and left the pitch to a standing ovation from an appreciative Anfield crowd.

Shortly after replacing Aquilani, Ngog created a chance for himself in the penalty box with some clever piece of footballing skill and managed to forced a save from Gomes. The Spurs defenders had a tough time coping with Ngog’s speed and clever skills in the short time that he was in the game. During injury time, Bassong chopped down Ngog when the latter was about to go 1 vs 1 against Gomes. Penalty duties were undertaken by Kuyt but he had to re-take it a second time after infringement by Lucas. Kuyt made no mistake from the re-take and made the 3 points safe and a glorious night for the supporters.

Kyrgiakos was massive in the middle of defence as was Skrtel who managed to keep Defoe checked throughout the game. Carragher was leading by example when he chased a lost cause and somehow managed to win a penalty which got the crowd going again. Even Degen had a good game on the right and was like a speeding demon on the right wing – if only he had the confidence to take the shot, he could have had a goal to his name.

The team will now have several extra days to recover before the Wolves game at Molinuex to keep the momentum going by getting another 3 points. Let’s hope that Rafa and his staff can maintain his winning streak as we face a  tough February 2010 with Bolton, Everton and Arsenal fixtures.

Will Tan,

* Editor’s Note: Sorry for the late posting! As most have known, we stumbled to a draw at Molinuex and Spurs are now in front at 4th place by 3 points. All the good work done, has gone to waste with our inept display – half the team went asleep in the late kick-off game on Wednesday morning and didn’t turn up for the game. We were lucky the defenders did though. Krygiakos played a blinder to give us only our 4th clean-sheet of the season.

LFC = Frustrated Inc.

It is the beginning of the end of Rafa Benitez as Manager of Liverpool Football Club if the media and pundits (sadly, included a host of former players!!!) are to be believed. Sure, the team played their heart out but team did not win.

Plenty of rumours around that Gerrard will be sold for GBP30million!!! But seriously, GBP30million? It’ll only buy Gerrard’s toes and his pinky at best ….. Also rumour mills are that Rafa have had a spat with Gerrard as well as the fact that Rafa have lost the dressing room ….. I recall much earlier certain pundit (more like former player) who said this but if that was so, how come the players are still playing their hearts out during matches? Oh! By the way, Gerrard was in the stadium during the match. I’m beginning to feel like Rafa is Leonidas.

Plenty in the media also ignored the support for Rafa during the game when the traveling Kop was showing it support by backing him and singing his name. Media agenda? Deffo!!!

Rafa started with Carra (on right back role), Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua on the backline. Aurelio and Degen (Yes, you don’t need reading glass yet!!) on the wings with Kuyt in the hole behind Ngog.

Anyhow, it wasn’t a pretty game and the defenders on both sides were the real match winners as both sets dug deep to prevent a goal although Stoke could easily have been penalized twice for tripping on Lucas (Yes!! It was Lucas in the opposition penalty area …once in the first half and once at the end of 2^nd half). Lucas only won himself a yellow card for purported diving in the first half, unfortunately. Maybe this is the price we pay for the Ngog diving incident last year which we picked up a point but others will think this is the payback, Karma!

Even when Kyrgiakos scored his first scrappy goal (he’s got the best goal per minute amongst our backline!!! Whee!!!), we never played with confidence although to be fair, Aquilani and Maxi were both on the bench. The former is probably saved for Spurs on Wednesday night (after playing consecutively for a few matches) whilst the latter is not match fit yet and still not able to speak English with his new team mates. Maxi did come into the match late whilst Aquilani come on in 85^th minute.

After going one goal down Stoke piled on the pressure and we giving away cheap … sorry, the referee kept giving away cheap fouls to Stoke for them to bombard the Liverpool penalty box. There were plenty of questionable decisions by the referee but let’s not go there – it’s the same referee which sent of Carragher and Degen in the same match a few months ago, ‘nuff said. Oh! By the way, the ref gave five (5) minutes of injury time …. maybe he thought that he was at Old Trafford!! Anyone who saw the match knew that it was not possible to have such a long injury time add on.

Stoke’s equalizer came in extra time during a corner and we were punished as Carragher (playing right back and positioned at the far post) were sucked into a cross that was coming into Reina’s six yard box but were back-headed to Huth who were unmarked and Huth duly tapped into an empty net.

Normally, a team will which succumbed to such a late equalizer would have gave up but credit to the Liverpool players on the pitch, they were not doing so. Instead in one last attack Aurelio sent in a deliciously swerving cross for Kuyt to arrive late into the penalty box and though Kuyt did managed to get good contact on it, the ball came off the post and bounced to safety for a draw which could have been costly for Liverpool at the end of the campaign.

Notwithstanding our draw with Stoke, the other results surprisingly (whether fortunately or not, depends on your views) were that Man City had lost to Everton (thank you Moyes!! Can’t believe I said it!), Spurs drew at home against Hull whilst the Hammers drew with MON’s Villans! So, we’re still in it for the 4^th place but we need to beat Spurs on Wednesday night’s match at Anfield and continue to pick up our form in the league.

-Will Tan-

Cool as ice! Fernando Torres strikes in injury time. Photo: Nick Wilkinson/EPA/Guardian

The game could easily have swung either way, and it really would have, like so many occassions this season when results have been so hard to come by. In the end, the quality of a top marksman separated both sides.

Fernando Torres latched on to a loose, some say lucky, ball from Benayoun in the dying minutes of injury time to claim three valuable points for the Reds. In doing so, the Spaniard also wrote the history books as the fastest player in Liverpool to nail 50 league goals.

Aston Villa had threatened on several occasions to break the deadlock with the speedy Gabriel Agbonlahor and a towering John Carew making their presence felt. An unmarked Stewart Downing even had an open goal to shoot into off a Liverpool mix-up, but he drilled his shot directly into Pepe Reina instead.

Liverpool too, had its chances to score. Dirk Kuyt was denied a valid penalty claim after being bundled over by Richard Dunne, and Gerrard’s looping shot was brilliant saved by Brad Friedel.

This was Liverpool’s first consecutive win since September, and in a game where 3 points could have gone to Villa in a disappointing season so far, fans will welcome this victory with cautious optimism.

Next up: Reading in the FA Cup, our realistic hope of a trophy this season, apart from the Europa Cup.

Aquilani orchestrating a Liverpool attack. Photo via dailymail.co.uk.

Yes… we’ve lost the game to a last minute goal for the 2nd consecutive home game in the champions league.

Yes… our GBP20million midfielder played for the first time in 7 months in a competitive match. Not match-fit though …

Yes… Rafa sent out a mix of fringe players and first team squad to measure his fringe players.

But none are as important as the following :-

1. Diego Cavalieri - fairly decent performance from him although not much he could have done with the 2 goals conceded as he was exposed. Good back-up keeper but needs game time which is hard to come by at the moment with the team only playing in the FA Cup and the Europa Cup. Difficult to see Rafa playing him when Reina is the undisputed No.1 when fit.

2. Stephen Darby – played at right back in a competitive match against top quality opposition. There were glimpses of his potential but yet there were mistakes too ….. which resulted in Fiorentina’s goals. That’s the bad side of Darby’s debut. Darby’s role in the 2nd goal shows that a simple mistake like that could result in a goal and why top class defenders always concede a throw in rather than risk losing possession against a speedy and nippy opposition snapping at the heels.The plus side is that his mistakes did not have any impact on our way to Europa Cup. It is said that how a person responds to a failure will determine whether he will make it to the pinnacle. This match was Rafa’s way of learning whether Darby has the balls and guts to fight back and return stronger and be a better defender. Nothing beats a proper high octane match to gain experience and Darby certainly got what he bargained for as one of the highly rated defenders in the Liverpool youth team. Sure – Darby’s full debut hardly matched David Kelly’s against Lyon last month but the experienced gained would allow Darby to evaluate his own short-comings for the future. How he bounces back from his debut against Fiorentina will determine if he can make it amongst the very best and Rafa has had to ‘gamble’ (not in the strictest sense) to see the youngling’s response.

3. Alberto Aquilani - every Liverpool Supporters’ hope for the new hero to rise amongst the doom and gloom atmosphere currently engulfing Anfield. It was all too easy to say that Aquilani should play and all that from our comfortable crouch potato seats in the living hall (ok…. maybe in the pubs and stadiums too!) but it was quite apparent that whilst he is physically fit and not feeling the effects of his injuries, the match sharpness and fitness is still lacking. For those who have criticised Rafa, Aquilani’s debut against Fiorentina show cased why it takes a little while to get to grips with the pace of the modern football game after a 7 to 8 months of absence. Sure, Form is temporary and class is permanent but then Aquilani was making his debut against Fiorentina and not a Premier League team and the pace is slightly different. How would Aquilani coped with the pace of the Premier League? This is why the managers and his backroom team knows best whether a recovering player should take the field especially after a long lay-off like one which Aquilani is recovering from. A hero rising? Still too early to tell but the signs are positive. Aquilani has the fans frothing from their mouths.

4. Martin Skrtel - played in the middle partnering Daniel Agger and unfortunately, still not back to his form last season after this season’s early clash of heads with Carragher in the openning game against Spurs. Needs game time to rebuild his confidence but games are coming in fast!

5. Daniel Agger - played in the middle partnering Skrtel and a little careless but nevertheless had a decent game and is showing his fitness level again. Hopefully, he will remain fit like this for the rest of the campaign this season.

6. Yossi Benayoun - played at the right and seems to have recovered from his hamstring injury. It looks like placenta treatment works! When will placenta treatment become mainstream and affordable?

7. Fernando Torres - played in a cameo subsitution and looked dangerous everytime he got the ball. Deffo a plus for the rest of the campaign. Only question is how fit will he be????

8. Andrea Dossena - hopefully this fella has done enough to secure a move to Roma at the Jan 2010 transfer window bring some monetary returns to the club.

9. Daniel Pacheco - good cameo and a brief look at the potential future of the front line in a couple of years time. Mouth-watering prospect…

Written by:

William Tan,
MyRAWK el-Presidente

Your thoughts and opinions? Post here, or discuss in our forums.

Pepe Reina with the saves that kept Liverpool in the match. Photo from Guardian.co.uk

Both teams were on the dreadful run and a lot more was at stake during this Miseryside derby match. The match was not pretty to watch as Rafa persisted with his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation whilst Moyes’ Everton preferred long balls into the Liverpool penalty box. B

Rafa’s preferred line was Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Aurelio, Gerrard and Ngog which was unchanged since our last match in the Champions League against Debrecen.

It was fiery encounter but it never lived up to its pre-match hype of being the derby match with the most red cards. Most important observation during the match – we wanted to win badly and at times, it looked like the players were willing to die trying!

Everton used their long ball tactics very well and their biggest threats being Cahill and the afro guy called Fellaini attacking the balls into the centre. Mostly our defence stood firm although there were a couple of half chances carved out by the Merseyside Blues (sounds like playing PES series!!!)

Everton had the first chance when Bilyaletdinov missed a kicked an open chance early in the first half. But in one of the rarest moments, Mascherano ran the ball into blue territory and unleashed a shot from 25 yards albeit off-target but it took a wicked deflection off the out-stretched foot of Joseph Yobo and took the ball away from a diving Tim Howard in goal.

Kudos to Everton though, they never let their heads drop after the goal and in fact doubled their efforts and had spells of possession and control but could not convert their half chances as our backline stood firm.

Just before half time, Jo twice thought scored a goal but was correctly adjudged to be in an off-side position and was denied an equalizer. In a rare foray into blue territory, Johnson crossed into the penalty box and Insua almost scored except for the strong palm of Howard in goal to deny what would be the Argentine’s first premiership goal.

On the 70th minute, Pepe Reina did a double save ala Dudek @ Istanbul by first denying Cahill’s header on the 6 yard box and immediately getting up to deny the follow-up from the unmarked Fellaini from 3 yards to the screams of frustrations from the Everton fans and applause from the Liverpool fans.

Benayoun had replaced Ngog and shortly after, in counter-attack, Riera’s cross found Kuyt who tried to flicked on for Gerrard but was cut out by Yobo albeit with a sliced clearance which found Gerrard with Hibbert following him. However, Gerrard managed to toe poke the ball back to Riera who unleashed a stinging shot which Howard could only parry to Kuyt who immediately follow-up with the tap-in. The goal basically killed off the match and secured the 2 points and Liverpool managed to secured their second consecutive clean sheet.

The most important thing during the match was the 3 points and a clean sheet which were achieved after the horrendous run the previous weeks.

–

Your thoughts on the match? Comment here, or discuss in our forums!

Written by,

William Tan

Lucas FTW!

If Rafael Benitez leaves at the end of this season, or any sooner, he would leave behind not so much a legacy, but most likely another promising and unfulfilled chapter in Liverpool FC’s Premier League era. After Gerrard Houllier’s unfortunate capitulation that followed a moving revival – which came on the back of the official end of the Boot Room tradition – it would be a huge step back from what was arguably the club’s greatest European night only 5 seasons ago.

To leave behind not further great European triumphs or League successes, but instead just endless saturated and tired discussion/debates of what he did and didn’t do, his managerial shortcomings and all would’ve been a grossly unfair hallmark of his tenure here.

Perhaps the hallmark of the Rafatollah era would’ve probably been the endless questions on his judgment as his decisions have often been derided and brought painful consternations amongst even the most faithful of Kopites, let alone the incessant and unforgiving media.

However, jokes aside, if I had a chance to put my two cents worth on what would be the hallmark of Rafa’s era, I would opt for a probably uncommon answer.

Timing.

To say the hallmark of Rafa’s tenure had been the debates that raged over his decisions would’ve not been inaccurate for many a supporter, however, jokes aside, a careful observation of his reign so far would evidence great and littered examples of impeccable timing.

Perhaps the most damaging yet exhilarating one yet would be his 2004/05 European Champions League triumph over the mighty AC Milan. Many have speculated that he is currently his own victim for this very success. This victory itself was even littered by further examples of almost divine timing – from Hamann’s introduction at the second half, to Smicer’s redemption goal after four seasons of loneliness, to the countless timely yet desperate lunges by Gerrard and co.

There are also many other good examples– the manner of the qualification into the knock-out stages of the afore-mentioned Champions League win, the manner of his FA Cup victory the following season, the numerous inspired substitutions he made, Gerrard’s huge Chelsea turnaround (though this might not be directly connected to Rafa), the tactical switch of Carra to centrehalf (although this is partly one the lasts of Houllier’s great legacy, but credit to Rafa too for sticking to Houllier’s judgement), the tactical switch to the right for Gerrard, the purchase of Alonso when the Kop was crying out for another Molby, the signing of Torres when the Kop finished crying for the next Molby and started crying for another God, the (finally) end of Parry’s tenure, last season’s 4 goal victories over Real Madrid and the Mancs and many others.

All the above came at the right time. Just when we thought we were out, he pulled us back in. Just when we thought we’d meander, he shepherded our fierce loyalty and passion back in.

Nowadays, many can somewhat feel the moment coming – that moment of another Rafa milestone. Every single time, this feeling will be preceded by a really fitting setting, a setting with a lot of relevance about it.

But not everything was as well-timed though. There was of course the infamous spat with the Yanks, where he was accused of breaking the club’s tradition of washing dirty linen in public (although that wasn’t the only tradition broken following the Yanks’ takeover), the now famous Rafa’s Rant on Fergie, his now old habit of rotation, his puzzling substitutions, his selling of club darling Alonso, the confession of his man-love for Barry and many other examples too.

Gareth Barry.

Speaking of the 28 year old, this Saturday’s match will be the first time Rafa comes face to face with the player he openly courted last season. A player whom, on his day would’ve given Hargreaves and Carrick a really good run for their money in the center of England’s midfield, turned his back at Rafa at the end of last season and signed for Citeh this summer. He’s not having a particularly great season so far. Rafa’s comments about prioritizing Barry over Keane in a recent interview with The Times might hold some relevance too. Not to mention Rafa’s remarks after Barry signing for Citeh. Barry will have something to prove, although unfortunately only possibly against Aquilani, the successor of the player he was allegedly replacing.

This match has plenty of relevance indeed. In case many have forgotten, it was against Citeh at Anfield back in August’04 that the club won after going down 1-0 at halftime. The last time we did something like that was May’99 against Spurs. That wasn’t the only comeback in Rafa’s first season, and tenure. In fact, many would argue that comebacks are the hallmark of Rafa’s reign.

This match will also reunite Rafa with Craig Bellamy, a player whom he had to sell to fund the transfer of Fernando Torres, his replacement. Although, in the same interview mentioned above, Rafa mentioned he’d wanted Keane too actually, a player of similar ilk to Bellamy – able to play as the second striker, across the line behind the main striker. Bellamy is playing very well so far, and has finally looked settled, even forcing Tevez to the bench. It’s anyone’s guess if Rafa would’ve wanted Keane if Bellamy was still around. This game might just give us a hint of a combination Rafa might’ve ended up with, should he have had enough funds in the last two seasons without having to sell, though it’ll be from the tactically unproven Mark Hughes.

Mark Hughes, the man who held Liverpool to a draw at Anfield last season, one of the 11 draws suffered, 7 of which were at home, which was effectively Liverpool’s Achilles heel.

And despite spending close to 100 million pounds on 5 marquee players for this season, and facing the inner Citeh blues as to doubts of his credentials as a top manager, especially following Citeh’s current drawing form plus an unsettled lineup plus transfers choices, it won’t be Hughes lining up for the media spotlight initially reserved for him before the season began.

It’ll be Benitez instead, who is coming into the match on an even worse record of 1 win in the last 9 games, having lost 5 games already this season, while standing at a qualification knife’s edge in the Champions League. Not to mention with a healthy list of injured players.

This match is also coming off a two week international break, which gave some respite to Rafa’s squad for prior to an already season-defining run of 6 games starting with this game.

And the whole world will be watching too, because it’s the earliest game this Saturday with its afternoon kick-off. It’s like someone had set this up. It’s as if everyone’s expecting a show.

Talk about timing.

This Saturday couldn’t come any sooner.

INNER CITEH BLUES

Jamal Raslan
http://aYardAhead.blogspot.com/