Liverpool FC Forum

[Sabre]

pure luck, obviously. well, that and playing against sh!te teams.

No doubt this is the key element.

But there are other secondary elements that I think you really should consider seriously:

* I can't help but notice that the moment that the manager's decission are more similar to those of the experts of this respectable forum, the team has clearly shown an improvement. I hope the next time the club looks at the right place (here) and we could have avoided those unacceptable draws against small teams.

* Throw ins. I mean Andy, you can't possibly ignore that.


I had a few more key factors but I ultimately have to agree that yes. It's luck basically.

[stmichael]

I'd say we've had 3 different approaches to the 3 games against Madrid, Mancs and Villa. That's the way Rafa operates. Madrid can't really defend so we hit them like a steam train from the off. United is a must win so we defend well and play on the break. Villa's confidence is shot to pieces so bombard them from the off.

A combination of great players fit, good players in good form, a high tempo, taking our chances and a bit of luck has led to 3 great results.

[burjennio]

deep prayer and ritual sacrifice.

and throw ins, lots and lots of throw ins

[bunglemark2]

LOL...I was gonna say that....I'd heard the rumours of sacrificing virgin chickens on Anfield Road...

Nah seriously, it almost looks like Rafa has told the lads to go hell for leather at the opposition for a change....

[mkingdom]

Playing our best 11

Knowing we have to win

Torres and Gerrard playing together



The media keep saying "every game is a cup final now", which obviously suits us, as everyone know we are only a cup side     

There is no doubt in anyone's mind (players or Rafa) about what a good result is....every league game must be won.

Also, once you beat Real, twice, then the mancs (by a country mile at OT) confidence obviously plays a part.

I get a real feeling that the players actually believe now that they can win the league.  I think our "wobble" was a lot of players thinking "$hit we might win this thing".  Then it looked like the chance had gone, and maybe some freedom crept back into our play then.

I can actually picture Stevie hoisting the prem trophy above his head and the ticker tape going off....here's hoping.

[loopyliverpool]

Our first eleven are all fit and playing collectively at a high tempo. We are hard to break down and have Torres and Gerrard's pace and vision to run defences ragged. The team as whole seem to have hit top form together and that might have something to do with confidence - winning in Madrid was the catalyst for this upturn in my opinion.

[Sir Roger]

There seems to be a small group consisting of takers of the pis.s regarding throw ins

Oh ye of little faith
Watch the matches again and see th difference of movement from the receivers of the ball...

[GYBS]

Watched the throw ins and they have made no one single bit of difference and are no different in any game i have watched .

[Sir Roger]

Watched the throw ins and they have made no one single bit of difference and are no different in any game i have watched .

Because you've obviously watched all the previous games to compare all the throw ins?

You must have some time on your hands

[Bad Bob]

I'm not sure but someone can tell me how any goals of those 13 came from clearances or direct punts up front?
Also from dead ball situations?
This (alongside good throw ins) has been lacking for me this season and now it seems to have returned.
Am I right or what?

Below, I've copied the goal synopses for all three matches that I've previously posted in the Match Info thread.


4 Liverpool FC - Real Madrid 0
1) A diagonal ball from Carragher bounces over Cannavaro's head, which allows Torres to nip into the box.  Pepe looks favourite to clear the danger but some physical play from Torres and a slip of his footing sees him miss out on clearing the ball, which rolls to Kuyt.  The Dutchman plays the simple square ball back to Torres in front of goal, who toepokes him with his right foot.  The Spaniard takes a look to ensure that the referee was not chalking the goal off for a foul on Pepe before beginning his celebration.

(2) A cross-field ball from Aurelio to Arbeloa sees the Spaniard chest-down in the box.  The ball, however, ricochet's off of Heinze's raised arm and the linesman flags.  The referee points to the spot and Gerrard steps up to curl the ball into the left corner of the goal, with Casillas diving the other way.

(3) Some nice stop-start running from Babel down the left flank stands Ramos up and allows the Dutchman to get his cross into the box.  Gerrard arrives on marked and shapes his body expertly to dispatch a right-footed volley after the ball takes a short hop.  The strike is true and finds the top left corner of the net.

(4) Dossena finishes off a move started with a Kuyt interception in his own pass.  He feeds his fellow Dutchman Babel, who holds the ball up well against Pepe before releasing a hard-charging Mascherano to his right.  The Argentine plays an excellent first-time ball across the box to Dossena, joining the play from LB.  The Italian's strike is firm enough to get beneath Casillas and into the net, despite the keeper getting a glove to it.

1 Manchester United - Liverpool FC 4

(1) Torres gets Liverpool back on level terms after a poor mistake by Vidic.  A long punt from the back by Skrtel is allowed to bounce over the Serbian defender's head and he then gets outmuscled by the Spanish striker in contesting the ball.  Torres comes away with the ball and strides into the box.  Van Der Sar keeps himself big and waits for Torres to make his move.  The Spanish defender drags the keeper right before sliding the ball crisply along the turf and into the net just inside the far left post.

(2) A typical surging run from Gerrard into the United box leads to a late tackle by Evra.  Wiley signals penalty and up steps Gerrard to eventually slot home low to the right after some gamesmanship from Van der Sar.

(3) A lovely backheel from Kuyt gives Gerrard the opportunity to knock the ball past a static Vidic, only to have the Serbian haul him back just outside the United area.  As the last man, Vidic is shown the red card for his foul and up steps Aurelio to take the free kick.  His beautiful left-foot curler dips over the wall and down into the net, flashing just inches inside the right upright with Van der Sar rooted in place.

(4) The gloss on a wonderful victory is provided by 'supersub' Dossena for the second time in the space of a week.  This time a long goal kick by Reina as permitted to bounce over O'Shea's head.  Dossena races onto the ball and, in one motion, lifts a delicate left-footed chip over a stranded Van der Sar and into the bottom right corner of the net.

5 Liverpool FC - Aston Villa 0

(1) Riera wins a free kick in Villa territory, down the left flank.  Gerrard whips the ball into the box with pace and Alonso's glancing header crashes off the bar and falls to Kuyt, who shapes himself beautifully and smashes the ball first-time through a crowd of legs and into the bottom left corner of the net.

(2) A long kick forward from Reina sails over the head of Curtis Davies and bounces into the Villa area.  Riera races onto the ball unmarked and delivers a sweet left-footed volley that rattles in off the underside of the bar to the left of a stranded Friedel.

(3) An excellent diagonal ball from Arbeloa (or Carragher?) sends Riera into the box and he does well to shield the ball from Reo-Coker, who trips the Spaniard.  A penalty is the decision and up steps Gerrard to cooly slot the ball into the bottom right corner of the net, with Friedel diving left.

(4) Kuyt wins a free kick at the edge of the Villa box after a positive run.  Alonso tees the ball up for Gerrard who places his strike perfectly--a low shot the slides past the Villa wall and finds the net just inside the right upright.

(5) A darting Torres run into the box sees the Spaniard tripped by Friedel.  Another penalty is the call and Friedel is dismissed for his challenge.  Villa's back-up kepper Guzan, however, does his best Brad Friedel impersonation: diving left while Gerrard slots home to the right.

----
So, by my count, the breakdown is:

"Route One" ... 4 goals (6 if you count the diagonal balls to Arbeloa (Madrid) and Riera (Villa) that led to penalties)

Penalties ... 4

Free Kicks ... 3 (included Kuyt's goal against Villa here, as it came from a free kick)

Other ... 2 (Babel's dribble and cross for Gerrard v,. Madrid and the counterattack v. Madrid which led to Dossena's goal)

[Bad Bob]

I think there was about 4 players in the box when Kuyt scored his rebound against Villa on the weekend.

At the beginning of the year, Robbie Keane (or whoever was up top) was lucky to have had ANYONE following the ball from midfield. More often than not, our striker was alone in the box and surrounded by different coloured shirts.

To be fair, Tony, Kuyt scored as a result of a free kick.  It's hardly surprising he was surrounded by red shirts in the box, is it?

[GYBS]

The long ball to reira was from kuyt mate

[taff]

confidence and belief.  Gerrard was interviewed yesterday where he said that he has complete faith and belief in Rafa.  Players working hard for each other and knowing how they fit in to the system, a system they have belief in.

We now look like a team that totally knows what they have to do and a team that fully believes in their manager

[Sir Roger]

I'm not sure but someone can tell me how any goals of those 13 came from clearances or direct punts up front?
Also from dead ball situations?
This (alongside good throw ins) has been lacking for me this season and now it seems to have returned.
Am I right or what?

Below, I've copied the goal synopses for all three matches that I've previously posted in the Match Info thread.


4 Liverpool FC - Real Madrid 0
1) A diagonal ball from Carragher bounces over Cannavaro's head, which allows Torres to nip into the box.  Pepe looks favourite to clear the danger but some physical play from Torres and a slip of his footing sees him miss out on clearing the ball, which rolls to Kuyt.  The Dutchman plays the simple square ball back to Torres in front of goal, who toepokes him with his right foot.  The Spaniard takes a look to ensure that the referee was not chalking the goal off for a foul on Pepe before beginning his celebration.

(2) A cross-field ball from Aurelio to Arbeloa sees the Spaniard chest-down in the box.  The ball, however, ricochet's off of Heinze's raised arm and the linesman flags.  The referee points to the spot and Gerrard steps up to curl the ball into the left corner of the goal, with Casillas diving the other way.

(3) Some nice stop-start running from Babel down the left flank stands Ramos up and allows the Dutchman to get his cross into the box.  Gerrard arrives on marked and shapes his body expertly to dispatch a right-footed volley after the ball takes a short hop.  The strike is true and finds the top left corner of the net.

(4) Dossena finishes off a move started with a Kuyt interception in his own pass.  He feeds his fellow Dutchman Babel, who holds the ball up well against Pepe before releasing a hard-charging Mascherano to his right.  The Argentine plays an excellent first-time ball across the box to Dossena, joining the play from LB.  The Italian's strike is firm enough to get beneath Casillas and into the net, despite the keeper getting a glove to it.

1 Manchester United - Liverpool FC 4

(1) Torres gets Liverpool back on level terms after a poor mistake by Vidic.  A long punt from the back by Skrtel is allowed to bounce over the Serbian defender's head and he then gets outmuscled by the Spanish striker in contesting the ball.  Torres comes away with the ball and strides into the box.  Van Der Sar keeps himself big and waits for Torres to make his move.  The Spanish defender drags the keeper right before sliding the ball crisply along the turf and into the net just inside the far left post.

(2) A typical surging run from Gerrard into the United box leads to a late tackle by Evra.  Wiley signals penalty and up steps Gerrard to eventually slot home low to the right after some gamesmanship from Van der Sar.

(3) A lovely backheel from Kuyt gives Gerrard the opportunity to knock the ball past a static Vidic, only to have the Serbian haul him back just outside the United area.  As the last man, Vidic is shown the red card for his foul and up steps Aurelio to take the free kick.  His beautiful left-foot curler dips over the wall and down into the net, flashing just inches inside the right upright with Van der Sar rooted in place.

(4) The gloss on a wonderful victory is provided by 'supersub' Dossena for the second time in the space of a week.  This time a long goal kick by Reina as permitted to bounce over O'Shea's head.  Dossena races onto the ball and, in one motion, lifts a delicate left-footed chip over a stranded Van der Sar and into the bottom right corner of the net.

5 Liverpool FC - Aston Villa 0

(1) Riera wins a free kick in Villa territory, down the left flank.  Gerrard whips the ball into the box with pace and Alonso's glancing header crashes off the bar and falls to Kuyt, who shapes himself beautifully and smashes the ball first-time through a crowd of legs and into the bottom left corner of the net.

(2) A long kick forward from Reina sails over the head of Curtis Davies and bounces into the Villa area.  Riera races onto the ball unmarked and delivers a sweet left-footed volley that rattles in off the underside of the bar to the left of a stranded Friedel.

(3) An excellent diagonal ball from Arbeloa (or Carragher?) sends Riera into the box and he does well to shield the ball from Reo-Coker, who trips the Spaniard.  A penalty is the decision and up steps Gerrard to cooly slot the ball into the bottom right corner of the net, with Friedel diving left.

(4) Kuyt wins a free kick at the edge of the Villa box after a positive run.  Alonso tees the ball up for Gerrard who places his strike perfectly--a low shot the slides past the Villa wall and finds the net just inside the right upright.

(5) A darting Torres run into the box sees the Spaniard tripped by Friedel.  Another penalty is the call and Friedel is dismissed for his challenge.  Villa's back-up kepper Guzan, however, does his best Brad Friedel impersonation: diving left while Gerrard slots home to the right.

----
So, by my count, the breakdown is:

"Route One" ... 4 goals (6 if you count the diagonal balls to Arbeloa (Madrid) and Riera (Villa) that led to penalties)

Penalties ... 4

Free Kicks ... 3 (included Kuyt's goal against Villa here, as it came from a free kick)

Other ... 2 (Babel's dribble and cross for Gerrard v,. Madrid and the counterattack v. Madrid which led to Dossena's goal)

Thanks for that mate
How interesting are those statistics?
4 route ones, 4 pens, 3 free kicks
Definitely a change there I think
Wonder if Rafa said something or has it just clicked in the players' heads?

[Bad Bob]

The long ball to reira was from kuyt mate

Finally, that mystery is solved!   I didn't pay close enough attention when it first developed and then every replay thereafter only showed the run into the box and the foul.  Cheers, mate.