FC Utrecht 0 – Liverpool 0. 1 points earned.

Oh how the team needs you.

If there’s one sure thing to Liverpool’s game these days it’s how consistent they’ve become, and how lucky they are to get even a point.

Let’s not talk about how consistent the boardroom/ownership drama is getting shall we?

As always they start brightly, concede domination after 20minutes to the opposing team, allow a few scary moments in our own penalty box, and be really poor with our final ball to the strikers to make them look like they’re struggling to come back to match fitness and end the half abjectly.

So many times did Meireles, as did Joe Cole after receiving the ball in a good area, hopelessly flick it off or lay it to Torres neither with conviction nor direction, and both performed direly.

So many times did Liverpool’s midfielders dribble, dribble, and dribble for far too long when a simple lay off to a teammate, followed by a lung busting off-the-ball run in the hope of getting a return through-ball, was really all that was required.

On paper, and in the first 15minutes, Liverpool were a force to be reckoned, and I say this not just historically or via paper rounds, as FC Utrecht trotted onfield likened to a bunch of groupies in their idol’s presence.

But the magical dust from Liverpool’s players soon wore off, FC Utrecht played as brilliantly as they could, and Liverpool were subjects of a disallowed goal, a veritable (Carragher-induced) penalty claim and a showcase of football that plays to the tune of “The team’s only as strong as it’s weakest link”.

FC Utrecht’s attacking intent grew with every shot that’s denied by the visitors and their weakest link was probably the first few minutes of mesmerization, while Liverpool’s laboured and clueless gameplan was exhibited excessively by individual unforced errors, the proverbial weak link of the night.

If this was a game of Chess, Liverpool seemed intent on playing their pieces like a game of Checkers and if this was a University lecture they’d be working extra hard accomodating Murphy’s law over and over again — nearly everything was horrendously wrong.

Still Roy probably got the formation right, but alas, the personnel was a little bit off, as yet again the players don’t seem to really know when the other is making the runs or simply where they are.

It was too easy for me to name Dirk Kuyt as Liverpool’s outstanding player of the night for his extremely efficient possession play, positional runs into the channels and constant harrassing, as nearly the rest of the squad were as if they were on autopilot, devoid even of the basic space opening maneuver of a simple pass-return-pass play.

That Torres is still finding his feet on his own in a team where it’s midfielders are determined not to get the ball to his feet, and instead hellbent on either dribling the ball on their own before unleashing a weak longshot or attempting a half-hearted, meek layoff for the striker to chase wildly.

Liverpool would have to consider themselves as miraculously lucky if they were to get the opening goal, while Utrecht would have to consider themselves terribly unlucky to not get their first goal against an English opposition on an European night.

It wasn’t so much as 2 points lost by the so called superior visitors, but rather a fortuitous 1 point fetched, snatching 2 points away from the ambitious home team, led by the composed and immensely potential Wolfswinkle at the front, who really reminded me of a certain young Spaniard whom was made captain of Atletico Madrid when he was barely in his early 20s.

I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see the young man getting snapped by the likes of Bayern, Milan or Chelsea in time to come, because he is that good, where I reckon he’s possibly worth as much as 15 to 20 Million?

Laudable pricetag indeed, but his performance definitely warranted such a pricetag and Hodgson’s earlier interest on his head as his movements and teamplay was near perfect on the night, but having said that, Utrecht’s teamplay was near perfect for the night.

Teamplay, a vocabulary that’s probably missing from Liverpool’s training camp, and if this woe continues, even if it’s 1 point and it’s against newly promoted Blackpool next week, I’ll gladly take em with open arms.

The trip to Stadion Galgenwaard.

European nights are often enjoyable nights for any travelling Reds fan, and it’s somewhat given that Liverpool FC enjoys their European trips more than anything.

Make no mistake, this is a very important game, not just in terms of footballing and financial reasons but also in terms of personal vindication for Liverpool’s modest manager and modest attacking frontline.

Well, maybe mostly the manager’s.

12 games on, 6 victories, 3 draws and 3 defeats is an ordinary record for any manager to have on their CV for the first 6 weeks.

Indeed, it’s a slipshod indication that Roy Hodgson is turning out to be an ordinary manager after all.

In fact, he’s turning out to be an extraordinarily ordinary, with an extraordinary team that’s made to perform ordinarily.

Ton Du Chatinier mentioned that he’s not afraid, as any respectable manager would and I’d expect Roy to feel the same, but something about his previous’ intent on sticking to a defensive line-up in away games tells me that I shouldn’t be too optimistic for a 4-3-3 line-up that boasts of Babel, Torres and Kuyt upfront.

I’m probably dreaming if I ever see them three in a 4-3-3 forward line-up.

A dream that I’d long for, but one that FC Utrecht wouldn’t want to see.

Sure Celtic were disposed off clinically, but we’re talking about Liverpool here. Then again, if Northampton can do it (so what if it’s a second team then), then anyone can do it, and FC Utrecht will need no other motivation to do well in front of their 25,000  home fans and in their first ever European encounter with an English team.

As for Liverpool FC, I don’t know what motivates the team anymore.

It don’t seem to be the manager, it’s definitely not the owner, and it’s disappointingly not the new signings as well.

Oh heck, for the club’s sake, I just wish that the players will simply start enjoying the beautiful game itself, that is to pass smoothly, play with each other and simply run for each other.

It’s been a while since they’re seen enjoying a string of decent passes, running around their opponent’s camp.

That’s right, stop trying too hard, and instead enjoy your football tonight, dear Reds.

It’s an European night after all.

Once In A While You Need To Let Off Your Steam.

Rafa Benitez has every right to be fuming at his players’ performance, or should I say the lack of it?

If you’ve followed my posts, you’d almost have it figured out that I’m a staunch and solid supporter of Liverpool Football Club, but today, you’ll also find that I don’t just follow blindly.

Yes, when the team’s performance is appalling, sometimes you need to bring out the stick, instead of the usual carrots.

There’s a saying which goes like this: Spare the stick (or rod) and spoil the child.

Benitez has defended his players staunchly and at most, directed his criticisms towards his Captain, but last night was perhaps the right time, he felt, to launch a wake up call towards his players.

As a footballer myself, when results don’t go our way, I’d hope for the coach to be lenient and forgiving, but sometimes, the hair-dryer treatment is required to ‘jumpstart’ the idling engines in me.

Perhaps that’s why Ferguson’s steed has cultivated this do or die mentality with every game, because they certainly don’t want any ‘hairdryer’ treatment vouchers at the end of the game.

I don’t fault Benitez, and I admire this recent touch of his, it shows that he can be strong and aggressive, when required — a character trait which should keep his players on their toes from now onwards.

A dreadful performance from players who are earning collectively millions and millions of pound per week, and the response that they give to their loyal fans is a meekly, uninspired, and lazy one.

0 Shots on Target.

To mention unbelievable is an understatement, especially this from a side that not only visited the Holy Grail of European football finals, but won it against all odds, and funny that it all seems so distant now.

Credit does go to Wigan’s players work ethics and strengths as they stiffled the ordinary midfield combination of Liverpool’s, so take nothing for their deserving 3 points. Truly deserving indeed.

Where I’ve so often defended the state of Liverpool’s plight, I find myself helpless against any criticism of the side, especially on account of last night’s performance.

Was Lille’s presence on their fragile minds?

No matter what, there’s a level of expectation to be met as professionals, and last night squeaked of amateurisms.

Vultures circling the Anfield saga will probably be having a blast of a time and perhaps for once, this time round, I’ll bear no grudge or animosity against them.

This time round, it was torturous for me, as a fan, and all I can ask for this time round, is to start performing as a team.

Let’s just forget 4th place, because unless Manchester City and Aston Villa implode inexplicably, we can merely imagine occupying it.

Last night’s loss sealed the team’s fate psychologically and now there’s an impossible mountain to be climbed.

Men with big hearts will climb such mountains with ease, but I guess there’s not a lot of them going around Anfield these days.

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AUTHOR BIO: I’m Mar and I’m a big fan of watching paint dry. Ever since last night’s game that is. Here’s to hoping for a revival in our performance this Thursday, against Lille. Meanwhile, catch Mar at his personal blog.mar.sg and drop him a message or two.

A Refreshing New Year

It took a red card to one of Wolves’ players for an early bath before Liverpool laboured and took control of the game, and taking their chances along the way, in last weekend’s 2-0 home victory.

It was painful watching Reds’ attack stuttering and begging for someone, just anyone to make that simple off-the-ball run, or drag a defender or two away from play.

The form of the team was static and despite the continuous twists and turns of Torres, Benayoun, Gerrard and Aquilani, there was very little else to be excited about, and you’re left anticipating for the sucker punch from the visitors instead, as chances were pitifully wasted away.

Thankfully, and I say this with a sense of elation that’s usually reserved for cup-final-winning games, the red card changed all that and despite the ‘unfairness’ of it all, the win instilled that much of confidence back into the fragile squad, and a win is 3 points in the bag.

And then there was the reading game where Liverpool was almost capitulated by a defiant Reading, a team performing beyond what their league table’s position might suggest.

Deservingly, Reading took the lead, after the Red’s defenders failed to clear the set piece, and indeed it has been Liverpool’s bane that they’ve kept conceding goals from set pieces more often this season, and I bet the defensive gap is so big that Hyppia could see it from the balcony of his German home.

Thankfully, the captain saved our blushes, yet again, with a cross-shot that crept past Reading’s goalie.

Indeed it was a fortuitous goal, but if not for Dirk Kuyt’s willingness to initiate a diagonal run into the box, cutting in from the right, Gerrard would probably not have swung his right boot for the goal.

1-1 was a ‘fair’ scoreline perhaps.

Credit to both parties, but more so to Liverpool’s defenders, for not conceding anymore goal, after half a season of shakiness and leakiness have passed.

You somehow there lingers this eerie feeling that should Reina and his backline concede anymore goals, that their confidence could instantly crumble, faster than you can even pronounce “Vasil Torosidis”.

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AUTHOR BIO: Mar is a Reds fan through and through. Despite the rough and tumble of recent results, he’s still an ardent supporter, in every sense of the word, for the club. Catch him at his personal blog.mar.sg and drop him a message or two.

Football, A Game of Luck?

Mark Hughes received his termination letter and this after 2 league losses, a run of draws, and much laudable victories over Arsenal and Chelsea.

The highlight of it all has to be the humiliation of getting the boot immediately after winning the game against Sunderland 4-3, and I mention this with a hint of sarcasm.

When you think hard about it, you wonder if Rafa Benitez really wished the American owners had an inexhaustible wade of cash, because if they did, they certainly wouldn’t have to think twice about flying a certain German*koff-Klinsmann-koff* over to Anfield. Mind you, that it’s not just for another round of coffee or chess.

But thank goodness, in a way, that they didn’t because they would then be making the same mistake that the Man City owners just did.

Hughes has the potential to be a really good manager, but unlike Benitez, he hasn’t been given time, a luxury the Spaniard seemed to be bestowed with, especially after Liverpool’s 2-0 loss to Premiereship strugglers, Portsmouth.

A few days back it seemed as if the Reds’ midweek victory over Wigan was enough to distract the vultures circling Rafa’s office, but as expected, they’re back and more vociferous than ever.

Chants of  ’You’re getting the sack in the morning’ may seem lenient when you consider Mark Hughes’s luck, or should I say.. the lack of it?

And it does seem like Liverpool aren’t quite on friendly terms with lady luck this season — they’re conceding more ‘unlucky’ goals (the beach ball comes to mind), getting more red cards, facing more inuries and they’ve yet to unleash any youth as exciting as a Jack Wilshere, a Darren Gibson or a Daniel Sturridge..

If it’s not luck then Rafa may have just coined the phrase of the season with ‘The referee is perfect.’, commenting on the event surrounding Mascherano’s straight red, which he will know serve a four match ban.

If you’d ask me, it never warranted a straight red for the grinning, effervescent Argentinian, as a yellow would have sufficed — but he certainly has to learn to curb the intensity of his challenges.

No doubt that with Alonso’s departure, the Argentinian is given more responsibility in protecting the backline, but he would do well to study videos of how Didi Hamann does almost effortlessly during his time for Liverpool..

You might argue that having to chase the game, the Liverpool lads were forced to put in that extra few percent into their game, but when you’re out of luck, there’s really nothing much that you can do.

Like how on earth did Portsmouth scored twice, and both from almost improbable angles where 9 out of 10 times it will hit the roof of the stadium instead of the goal.

Good goals they were, and credit to Nadir and Piquione for even having the audacity to go for goal, a trait that is sorely lacking in Liverpool’s play this seson.

Anyway if luck seem to desert us during these time and also now that Christmas is drawing near, it will be heart warming to take a little bit of history lesson, which tends to show that Liverpool is a second half team, more than anything.

Thoughts of the 5-4 Uefa Cup victory over Alaves, the 3-3 comeback against AC Milan, the turnaround against West Ham in the FA cup final, all come to mind.

With more players returning from injury, Liverpool’s season may finally get the kickstart that has frustratingly (for the supporters especially) long evaded us.

There’s only so much that luck can offer, and one suspects that Rafa may need to spend wiser than ever, thriftier than ever and swiftier than ever during the January transfer window.

But one can’t help thinking where lady luck has gone to eh?

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AUTHOR BIO: Mar is a passionate, understanding and tolerable Reds fan through and through. Until he gets to visit Anfield and experience the KOP end, he’s not quite the perfect Kopites as yet, but he’s getting there, nevertheless. Catch him at his personal blog.mar.sg and say hi.

MATCH REPORTS: Liverpool 1 – Arsenal 2

A Liverpool-Arsenal encounter has always been a thrilling entertaining ride, partly due to Arsenal’s open game complimenting Liverpool’s counter-attacking exploits.

A game of 2 halves, and depending on which side of the fence you’re on, you might want to forget one or the other.

Leading 1-0 at half time, I was in a buoyant mood, confident that the Arsenal backline will be having a nightmare second half, but Arsene Wenger seemed to have prepared the perfect script to turn the tide around.

An unfortunate ricochet off Johnson led to their equaliser and a bullet of a snapshot from Arshavin killed off the home team effectively.

While Johnson may take the blame, space on the left flank wasn’t closed down enough to prevent the cross from causing any damage, and it’s a team game ultimately, and the team just didn’t do enough for a win.

But Arsene Wenger and his boys certainly did enough.

What he said remains indefinitely within the walls of the dressing room and whatever words were used, they effectively sealed Liverpool’s fate to another loss, and condemning the Red’s into a stupor induced performance — cue criticism from all corners of the web.

Yet again, a lacklustre second half Liverpool performance was enough to raise the ire of the manager and fans alike — but it’s good to know that we’re strongly behind the team.

You’ll never walk alone is the motto, and judging by the lightning pace of the first half, you can somehow sense that this unwelcomed storm is nearing its end.

You begin to wonder what happened to the Liverpool of season past, where they, more often than not, anxiously made us wait into the injury time for a respite in the form of a last minute equaliser or game winner.

The Liverpool of this season somehow presents itself as a team that is just not willing to fight back or keep possession and up the tempo for that much needed equaliser.

It is as if everyone stalled and was simply hoping for someone else to provide that game-winning inspiration, and just too bad that Gerrard and Torres, both fresh from injury and not fully fit to play the role of saviour this time round.

There was not to be any saviour last night, and deservingly Arsenal brought home the 3 points gleefully.

But there was a glimpse of silver lining decorating the boots of Aquilani as his 30 minutes or so worth of gametime exposed sneak previews of things to come.

Next up Wigan, a game where you can expect the unexpected, from a team that is consistently inconsistent.

There’s a light at the end of the tunnel — but I’m hoping that it isn’t just another train of bad dreams.

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AUTHOR BIO: Mar may be a supporter of countless football teams but he’s a Kopites through and through. His views may not necessarily reflect the subject’s opinions, but its much more balanced than most. Do catch him at his personal blog.mar.sg and say hi.

MATCH REPORT: Blackburn 0 – Liverpool 0

This result probably didn’t come off as much of a surprise as when the teamsheet was announced.

You would be forgiven for thinking that the likes of Riera and Benayoun on the wings, backed by Insua and Johnson would shred the Blackburn defence mercilessly.

Well, Blackburn defended mercilessly for certain, throwing bodies unapologetically all over the place, and when they do got possession, the ball would be launched long into our penatly box, hoping for a certain Italian to weave his magic, and no, not Aquilani mind you, but young Franco Di Santo.

If Di Santo had a couple of years of experience under his belt, he would have easily converted a few half chances, but to depend on the inexperienced striker against the colossal Carragher, is simply asking too much.

Indeed Carragher may have placed a few feet wrong, but his experience made up for it, while Agger provided enough cover to provide stability in an already leaky defence.

The central pairing of Carragher and Agger has yet to mature and blossom, but they are looking good these days, along with the safe pair of goalkeeping hands of Reina too.

Thanks to Reina’s quick thinking and superb keeper-sweeper display, the Blackburn sucker punch never came, fortunately enough.

If you had witnessed the first half of the game, you would probably daze away in a stupor, after an uneventful period.

The substitution of Ngog for Riera turned out to be the catalyst for Liverpool’s second half waves of attack.

Though it may seem adequately impressive that Liverpool’s attacking plays finally kickstarted the engine, it was extremely annoying that Red’s approach play is still littered with mistimed passes, poor dribbles and sorrowfully inadequate off-the-ball runs.

Where a simple one-two would work, instead the ball was held in possession for far too long.

Where a quick layoff was needed, instead the pass was delayed, thus causing a breakdown in the attacks.

Overall, Liverpool’s reluctance to run at Blackburn’s defence came off as annoying, but fortunately Johnson came to the rescue with some timely penetrating runs on the right flank.

Just when the opening goal was inevitable, the uneven pitch came to Blackburn’s rescue as Johnson’s low cross bounced off the ground, causing Ngog shins instead of boots to connect with the ball, which eventually hit the bar instead of the back of the net.

That was probably the only time that Blackburn allowed Liverpool’s players to get behind them, and so to say that the Reds would have deserved all 3 points is an overstatement.

Blackburn deserved their point, and Liverpool’s lethargic display surely begs the question of just how inventive their midfield is?

Although Lucas’ rare foray into the penalty box almost allowed Gerrard to earn a spotkick, that was the only play worth mentioning for the Brazilian, who was largely ordinary throughout the game.

Sure we know that Torres’ return is a couple of games away, but just where was Aquilani?

Why didn’t Rafa play him instead of Lucas, and in a game where the hosts were simply content to sit back and absorb all the pressure that it can, surely Aquilani deserves a run out?

If any good were to come out of the game, it was the team’s clean sheet that’s worth mentioning.

If any bad were to come out of the game, it was Rafa’s insistence on not using Aquilani, yet again.

Perhaps mid week’s Fiorentina game might see him making a full debut?

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AUTHOR BIO: Mar is a passionate, understanding and tolerable Reds fan through and through. Until he gets to visit Anfield and experience the KOP end, he’s not quite the perfect Kopites as yet, but he’s getting there, nevertheless. Catch him at his personal blog.mar.sg and say hi.

Everton FC (0) – Liverpool FC (2)

I’ll be brutally honest when I say that the Reds never really looked like convincing winners during the game, at least not till Kuyt’s goal did the Reds deserved all 3 points.

You could even be forgiven  for thinking that Everton was the better team on the day, as they astutely ran ragged our defenders with their aeriel prowess and brute strength.

Simple yet effective tactics to destabilise any mean Premiereship defence and would you believe it that this time round, lady luck visited our goal (in disallowing 2 good Everton goals) and even did as much as placing Reina onto the right spot to block Fellaini, barely less than 3 yards from goal.

Indeed Fellaini was a thorn, overpowering the Reds defence time and time again, and I must admit how highly impressed I was at his calm and collected performance.

He knew when to hold the ball, when to make that pass, when to cross, when to run, where unlike our Lucas who seemed lost whenever the ball was in his possession.

If there was a Worst Footballer Of The Match award, Lucas would have singlehandedly picked it up, but not to say he wasn’t any good at all, just that his weakness and his prowessess, well they’re  still 50-50.

One’s not too sure if he’s a footballing aristocrat or or footballing brat.

Anyway, the goal should be credited to Mascherano simply because he ran 3/4 of the pitch just to kiss the Liverpool badge in front of his fans — and does that look like someone who’s looking for a move away from Anfield?

My Man Of The Match award goes out to Masch, for his selfless runs, well thought passes, last-ditched tackles, and the constant harassing of Evertonians, and if only it was for the latter reason, I’d give him the award.

So where was Stevie G during the game, inconspicuously missing for large part of the game, and you get the sense that either he’s frustrated at playing alongside ‘kids’ or he’s yet to reach a 100% fitness level.

Let’s face it, Lucas is no Alonso replacement, while Ngog is no Torres replacement either, and it makes it extremely difficult for a world class player to ‘communicate’ football amongst ordinary men.

Nevertheless, Rafa finally managed to secure another 3 points in the bag and lift the club into 5th place, no thanks to Manchester City drawing yet again.

No doubt this will lift some of the pressure off his shoulders and allow him much needed breathing space as well, for the moment.

So Everton 0, Liverpool 2. Not the classic 4-3 encounters of the past, but just as cracking indeed.

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ART’s Top 3 Players:

1. Javier Mascherano
2. Dirk Kuyt
3. Pepe Reina

ART’s Worst 3 Players:

1. Joseph Yobo
2. Lucas Leiva
3. *Coin Toss* Tim Howard / David Ngog

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AUTHOR BIO: Mar is a passionate, understanding and tolerable Reds fan through and through. Until he gets to visit Anfield and experience the KOP end, he’s not quite the perfect Kopites as yet, but he’s getting there, nevertheless. Catch him at his personal blog.mar.sg and say hi.

It’s not a 4 month season: Reds Exit UEFA’s Champions League.

Disappointment, sadness, grievances and regrets might be associated at the wake, pun intended, of Liverpool’s Champions League exit, but in my eyes it is actually more of a boon than a bane.

I welcome the exit with welcome arms, not because I harbour no reservations of being the Champions of the UCL again ( I do want them to win, next year perhaps~), but mostly due to the fact that I get to see the Liverpool players as mere humans again.

This exit did not turn Rafa Benitez into a bad manager or the Liverpool players into bad footballers, and if anything it goes to show how beautifullly unexpected the beautiful game can be, and how magnificient and feet-firmly-rooted -to-the-grounds Liverpudlians can be.

Nothing can be taken for granted, and certainly in Liverpool’s case, their entry into the Europa league cannot be regarded as a misadventure, but instead as an opportunity to put in the right foot at the right time.

Blessed (thankfully) with the sudden lack of boardroom drama this season, the teamsheet for Liverpool is suddenly blighted with injuries and the sudden bountyful visits of lady luck to opposing teams, where non other than the beach ball incident comes to mind.

There are plenty more games of football to be played and we’re not even halfway into a season and shoddy calls of a disaster / crisis period looms over Anfield, and I strongly disagree.

If a team plays badly without conviction nor determination, and where the Manager goes into a press conference with his hands held up surrendering and spouting weakness in his every words, and when the Board of Directors starts praising other Managers, and until then, there is nothing remotely resembling a crisis at Anfield.

Imagine Manchester United without Rooney or Berbatov, Giggs or Scholes, and Vidic or Ferdinand.

Imagine Chelsea without Drogba or Anelka, Essien or Lampard, and Terry or Carvalho.

Imagine Arsenal without Van Persie or Arshavin, Fabregas or Denilson, and Vermaelan or Gallas.

Then imagine Liverpool without Torres or Gerrard, Riera or Aquilani, and Johnson or Agger, except for the fact that there are games when all of them have not featured at all.

It’s not as if the players aren’t trying as you can see how they grimace and despair over loss oppportunities and inexplicable setbacks such as a mistimed injury.

The severity of injuries to key first team players have affected the results and until everyone plays together on the same field at the same time, it’s an unfair judgement that’s being passed around the walls of Anfield at this moment.

Remember the saying, don’t judge a book by its cover?

Well, perhaps for now, try not to judge a team by a 4 monthed scorecard.

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Author Bio: Check out Blog.mar.sg for more information regarding this author.