Match report for today!
Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2004 11:09 pmDudek, 6 - Was solid, made a couple of camera saves as usual but looked decent. Best display of the season but didn't have much to do.
Josemi, 6 - Another solid performer, defended well but offered little going forward. Has had better games but still early days, looks a good player.
Riise, 7 - Full of energy and running and played well. Attacked well and defended convincingly. Was wasteful with a few hoofs but starting to look the player we all know he can be. Hopefully he will continue to improve, he's started the season in good form.
Hyypia, 8 - Dominant is the best way to discribe him today. Just oozed class in everything he done, i don't remember seeing a West Brom chance. Won everything in the air, composed and read the game well as usual.
Carragher, 8 - Similar to Sami. Dominant and gave nothing away, used the ball well aswell from the back and had a good game. Made some superb tackles and put himself about alot.
Finnan, 7 - Good game, quality goal. Passing was good and useful and took his goal superbly. Great touch, good turn and good finish. Put 3 excellent balls into the box, 2 of which deserved someone on the end of them. Best game for a while and hopefully shown he has a future here even if its as a squad player.
Kewell, 6 - Good to see him back. The difference in class between him and Warnock is obvious. However he's still short of his best and its becoming a concern. He done some good things today but was still sloppy and went missing at times. His movement and effort was much better today though. His best game of the season so far. He will improve, i just hope he does it sooner rather than later.
Gerrard, 8 - Excellent. Simply excellent. Ball retention was superb for once and his passing was simple and effective. Plenty of 1-2's and lots of effort today. Tried one or two long passes that didn't come off but today i think he played 4 and two did come off so i can forgive him for the two that didnt. You could see he enjoyed playing with Luis Garcia and he looked relieved to have a player to play off. My man of the match... JUST.
Hamann, 7 - Good game. Passed the ball well, won the ball well. Just typical Hamann. The passing and movement and understanding looked superb with Gerrard and Finnan and the link-up play with Garcia and Riise was promising. I think he still has a really important role for this club.
Luis Garcia, 8 - If you want to win over the fans on your home debeut, the way he played in the first 45 is the way to do it. He was greedy twice where he should have passed it but you could see he was just eager to get off the mark. That unselfishness will come with games. Full of pace, energy and intelligence. His movement and link up play is superb and technically he's very good. Will be a really good player for us and one i'm really impressed with so far. Today some of his link up play with other players was outstanding and his vision and technique aswell as his agility and movement will make him a focal point of this side in the future. Oozed class at some points and made others play, notabley Steven Gerrard. Faded in the second half but got his goal and looked made up.
Cisse, 7 - Full of running and done some good things. Had a good effort saved from 18 yards on a bit of an angle and shown his pace again. Needs more confidence and aggression but that will come with time and games. Clearly has the potential to become a superb player for us. Reminds me alot of Pires in his first season for the ******. Hopefully he can have the same long term impact, early signs are promising.
Subs:
Traore, 6 - Nothing to do of note, done what was required. Game was already won.
Alonso, 6 - Game already won so it was dead in midfield. His passing and set pieces look amazing. Didn't really have an impact on the game though. Anyone who thinks Gerrard can pass a ball though... Check this guy out, he can land the ball on a 5 pence piece from 60 yards. The weight on his passes is unbelievable.
Baros, 6 - Full of running down blind alleys as usual. Still a headless chicken. But plenty of effort which is the most important thing.
All in all a good performance, solid at the back, looked inventive in attack. More to come i hope.
Josemi, 6 - Another solid performer, defended well but offered little going forward. Has had better games but still early days, looks a good player.
Riise, 7 - Full of energy and running and played well. Attacked well and defended convincingly. Was wasteful with a few hoofs but starting to look the player we all know he can be. Hopefully he will continue to improve, he's started the season in good form.
Hyypia, 8 - Dominant is the best way to discribe him today. Just oozed class in everything he done, i don't remember seeing a West Brom chance. Won everything in the air, composed and read the game well as usual.
Carragher, 8 - Similar to Sami. Dominant and gave nothing away, used the ball well aswell from the back and had a good game. Made some superb tackles and put himself about alot.
Finnan, 7 - Good game, quality goal. Passing was good and useful and took his goal superbly. Great touch, good turn and good finish. Put 3 excellent balls into the box, 2 of which deserved someone on the end of them. Best game for a while and hopefully shown he has a future here even if its as a squad player.
Kewell, 6 - Good to see him back. The difference in class between him and Warnock is obvious. However he's still short of his best and its becoming a concern. He done some good things today but was still sloppy and went missing at times. His movement and effort was much better today though. His best game of the season so far. He will improve, i just hope he does it sooner rather than later.
Gerrard, 8 - Excellent. Simply excellent. Ball retention was superb for once and his passing was simple and effective. Plenty of 1-2's and lots of effort today. Tried one or two long passes that didn't come off but today i think he played 4 and two did come off so i can forgive him for the two that didnt. You could see he enjoyed playing with Luis Garcia and he looked relieved to have a player to play off. My man of the match... JUST.
Hamann, 7 - Good game. Passed the ball well, won the ball well. Just typical Hamann. The passing and movement and understanding looked superb with Gerrard and Finnan and the link-up play with Garcia and Riise was promising. I think he still has a really important role for this club.
Luis Garcia, 8 - If you want to win over the fans on your home debeut, the way he played in the first 45 is the way to do it. He was greedy twice where he should have passed it but you could see he was just eager to get off the mark. That unselfishness will come with games. Full of pace, energy and intelligence. His movement and link up play is superb and technically he's very good. Will be a really good player for us and one i'm really impressed with so far. Today some of his link up play with other players was outstanding and his vision and technique aswell as his agility and movement will make him a focal point of this side in the future. Oozed class at some points and made others play, notabley Steven Gerrard. Faded in the second half but got his goal and looked made up.
Cisse, 7 - Full of running and done some good things. Had a good effort saved from 18 yards on a bit of an angle and shown his pace again. Needs more confidence and aggression but that will come with time and games. Clearly has the potential to become a superb player for us. Reminds me alot of Pires in his first season for the ******. Hopefully he can have the same long term impact, early signs are promising.
Subs:
Traore, 6 - Nothing to do of note, done what was required. Game was already won.
Alonso, 6 - Game already won so it was dead in midfield. His passing and set pieces look amazing. Didn't really have an impact on the game though. Anyone who thinks Gerrard can pass a ball though... Check this guy out, he can land the ball on a 5 pence piece from 60 yards. The weight on his passes is unbelievable.
Baros, 6 - Full of running down blind alleys as usual. Still a headless chicken. But plenty of effort which is the most important thing.
All in all a good performance, solid at the back, looked inventive in attack. More to come i hope.
