Liverpool FC Forum

by **SoppMeister** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:44 pm

I'll be honest I stopped watching at 1-1. So annoyed. Then got told a few minutes later we'd scored. Serves me right I suppose.

I thought the first 20 minutes were shocking, and the rest of the game wasn't exactly much better. Then again, the first game of the season is always going to be a hard one and Spurs, highly tipped to get the 4th spot this year were even worse than us.

Riise looked totally out of place on the left but other than that everyone played well. I think if given a consistent run of games together, Torres and Kuyt could really start to work well together and Babel looked good once he came on.

by **maguskwt** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:45 pm

am i the only one that notices carra and agger struggle with opposition forwards that are strong in the air?

I like torres and kuyt partnership... they are a handful and they seem to link up with one another quite well...

didn't really like babel on the right wing... he didn't look comfortable on the ball at all...

arbeloa seems to be doing better and the rest... nothing much to say... gerrard still the best player on the team...

overall the team seems to be playing more directly and put pressure on the opposition... 3.5/5...

by **Wilhelmsson** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:45 pm

I’m content with the opening day performance and result.

The team controlled large spells of the match, the passing was very good, and the tempo in the first half was very high which made for an exciting twenty minutes or so.

The build up play for the first goal was pleasing to watch, Torres and Kuyt showed good signs of being able to work alongside each other. Pennant had a good game IMO; he was lively caused problems and bought some much needed intensity into the game.

Carragher and Agger struggled when clearing the ball from the box in the second half, which was unusual to see as both are usually rock solid at the back. Babel impressed me when he came on, not knowing/seeing much of him I didn’t know to expect and was pleasantly surprised, I look forward to watching more of him.

As for the Villa penalty, Carragher wasn’t at fault; the ball rose and struck his arm, it happens to everyone, but Gerrard’s goal (what a goal) was crucial.

Overall, there is not much to complain about IMO, it was the kind of match Liverpool stereotypically would have lost/drawn but hopefully we can win matches on the road more often this season.

A better performance and level of finishing is needed against Chelsea and against other teams throughout the campaign, that aside I’m very pleased to have won the opening fixture.

Kudos to the away support, they were great as usual.

by **Dundalk** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:48 pm

SoppMeister wrote:I'll be honest I stopped watching at 1-1. So annoyed. Then got told a few minutes later we'd scored. Serves me right I suppose.

Didn't Istanbul teach you anything??

by **LittleHobo** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:49 pm

very happy

torres settled in very fast, looked like he had been playing in the premiership all his life.

its worrying that Gerrard still has to do his superman impression....we need more match winners coming up to the plate

not a great fan of riise left mid, but away from home it works to some extent......he retains possession better than kewell

kuyt i thought was good also.....just wish he would get forward more....stop coming so deep all the time

Babel aswell showed why we have payed the money for him, hes a livewire......raw and not afraid to try things.

o Gerrard we love you

by **metalhead** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:49 pm

Dundalk wrote:
SoppMeister wrote:I'll be honest I stopped watching at 1-1. So annoyed. Then got told a few minutes later we'd scored. Serves me right I suppose.

Didn't Istanbul teach you anything??

that everything is possible with gerrard?

by **SoppMeister** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:51 pm

Dundalk wrote:
SoppMeister wrote:I'll be honest I stopped watching at 1-1. So annoyed. Then got told a few minutes later we'd scored. Serves me right I suppose.

Didn't Istanbul teach you anything??

Yeah, just got caught up in it all, couldn't stand the idea of dropping points on the first day that's all!

For Setanta viewers, will we be treated to Emmanuel Petit's 'expert analysis' on a regular basis this season?

by **Dundalk** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:55 pm

Setanta is like the local shopkeeper compared to Sky which is Asda but I enjoyed it. It wasnt as hyped up as much as Sky and it was like football coverage back in the day

by **red37** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:57 pm

And Macca's Monday analysis!!

Might extend me subs to cover another month til ive had a gander at the new LFC channel anyway - for a tenner, aint bad.

by **SoppMeister** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:57 pm

Also, don't know if anyone's mentioned this already but it's great to see how much everyone celebrated after the goal, especially Reina.

by **The_Rock** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:02 pm

maguskwt wrote:am i the only one that notices carra and agger struggle with opposition forwards that are strong in the air?

Thats the reason why rio ferdinand gets getting picked ahead of carra ....along with terry for england.

Carra is not that dominant in the air. Don't think Agger also is. Hyppia might still play an important part for us.

BTW, i don't think rafa has bought any centreback who is good in the air for us yet..... Not sure why.....

by **metalhead** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:04 pm

The_Rock wrote:
maguskwt wrote:am i the only one that notices carra and agger struggle with opposition forwards that are strong in the air?

Thats the reason why rio ferdinand gets getting picked ahead of carra ....along with terry for england.

Carra is not that dominant in the air. Don't think Agger also is. Hyppia might still play an important part for us.

BTW, i don't think rafa has bought any centreback who is good in the air for us yet..... Not sure why.....

Agger isn't good in the air, he never was.

by **The_Rock** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:05 pm

BTW, when berry scored .....i was thinking here we go again...another draw in our opening fixture.

But when...who else...but MR MBE pops up with another goal...i fell of my bed celebrating....

Whoooo....this is gonna be gerrard's year.

Player's Footballer of the year
Writer's Footballer of the year.

Captain of premier league champions
&
Captain of champions league winners

:buttrock

Hey....i am greedy......

by **The_Rock** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:11 pm

Match review by soccernet......

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=219019&cc=3888

Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool: Gerrard stunner
PA

Steven Gerrard's superb free-kick ensured a 2-1 victory for Liverpool on the opening day of the Barclays Premier League campaign for the first time during the Rafael Benitez era.

GettyImages
Dirk Kuyt celebrates Liverpool's first goal with new partner Fernando Torres.

Aston Villa looked to have rescued a point when skipper Gareth Barry cancelled out Martin Laursen's firs-half own goal with an 86th-minute penalty.

But then Gerrard curled a 20-yard shot past the dive of Stuart Taylor barely 60 seconds later, after he had been brought down by Stiliyan Petrov.

Overall Liverpool were worthy winners, with record signing Fernando Torres making a satisfactory debut despite spurning a golden first-half opportunity.

The £20.2million capture from Atletico Madrid linked up effectively with Dirk Kuyt before being taken off with 11 minutes remaining.

But man of the match for the umpteenth time was England midfielder Gerrard, who exerted so much influence over proceedings even before his goal, while Jamie Carragher excelled at the heart of the Villa defence.

If Benitez could have hand-picked a first-day opponent it would surely have been Villa, given they have not beaten the Reds in front of their own fans for nine years.

Villa huffed and puffed with Barry outstanding in midfield, but they seldom tested Jose Reina until he turned over an injury-time John Carew header.

Villa made a bright start in front of a capacity 43,000 crowd and Reina had to be alert to deal with a stinging 30-yard volley from makeshift Villa right-back Craig Gardner.

Carragher showed his class and awareness to block a shot from John Carew at the expense of a corner after he had been played in by Gardner.

But Liverpool gradually took command and Torres had his first half-chance after 17 minutes when he blazed over the bar from a narrow angle following a long clearance by Reina.

Taylor parried a low Gerrard drive and a superb pass from the England midfielder was seized on by Kuyt, but he hesitated instead of shooting first time.

Villa central defender Olof Mellberg became the first player to be booked after 26 minutes for a clumsy challenge on Torres.

Torres showed his class when he outstripped Mellberg to find himself with only Taylor to beat. But the Spaniard screwed his shot across the face of goal.

Increasing pressure from the visitors paid off in the 36th minute, although it needed an own goal from Martin Laursen to break the deadlock.

Taylor did well to parry a Torres effort, but Kuyt managed to cut the ball back into the danger area from the byline and the unfortunate Laursen only succeeded in lofting the ball into the roof of the net.

Gerrard curled a shot just over the bar after Pennant found him in plenty of space and the visitors were carving gaps in the Villa defence almost at will.

When Villa did venture forward, Barry played in Petrov, but his left-footed drive lacked conviction and flew straight at Reina.

O'Neill made a half-time substitution, replacing Laursen with Gary Cahill, although it was not known whether it was tactical or because he had suffered a knock.

Villa tried to build up some momentum and Nigel Reo-Coker tried his luck from the edge of the Liverpool box but dragged his shot well wide.

Pennant became the first Liverpool player to be yellow-carded after 55 minutes for a challenge on Young.

The out-of-sorts Bouma was then booked for a late tackle on Pennant.

Villa were still struggling to create any openings and it needed a brilliant block from Gardner to prevent Gerrard doubling Liverpool's lead.

Kuyt made good ground down the right and squared the ball across goal to his unmarked skipper, who struck his shot cleanly enough, but Gardner threw his body in the way to stop a certain goal.

Gerrard was denied again when Taylor turned aside his fierce first-time drive.

Villa looked to have rescued a point with four minutes remaining when Barry converted a penalty after Carragher had handled in the box.

But the Villa celebrations had not died down when Gerrard restored Liverpool's lead within 60 seconds.

He was brought down 20 yards out by Petrov and himself curled a superb free-kick past Taylor to cap an excellent individual performance.

by **destro** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:14 pm

The_Rock wrote:
maguskwt wrote:am i the only one that notices carra and agger struggle with opposition forwards that are strong in the air?

Thats the reason why rio ferdinand gets getting picked ahead of carra ....along with terry for england.

Carra is not that dominant in the air. Don't think Agger also is. Hyppia might still play an important part for us.

BTW, i don't think rafa has bought any centreback who is good in the air for us yet..... Not sure why.....

They struggle in the air just as much as other Centre Halfs do against Crouch, Carew will cause a lot of teams problems but i wouldn't say we struggle to compete against his type of player ? I seem to remember us coping ok when teams (most recently Chelsea ) send all the big deffenders Terry, Huth etc upfront and bombard us with long high balls !

Ferdinand plays ahead of Carra for England because he is a better footballer than Carra but he is not a better deffender

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