0-0 stalemate helps Chelsea all the more
Disappointing 0-0 draw at Anfield, our third so far. Plus side is we haven't conceded, the only team along with Chelsea in that position at the moment. Minus side is obviously not scoring at all, much less enough. One goal in four games is not Premiership title quality. One win in four games is not looking Premiership title quality. Rafael Benitez is looking to build a side that can strangle the game from the best of them that comes. We were defensive enough to quiet Utd but not attacking enough to threaten them into panic. At the end of the day, both sides didn't want to lose more than they wanted to win. We were aware of Utd's attacking prowess, their formation should business after Villarreal, 4-3-3 with Roy Keane returning miraculously, having been said to be out for weeks.
Benitez went on to say afterwards that the goals will come, and I believe they will. If Newcastle can go to Ewood Park and score 3 without the Rovers replying after their barren run, then Liverpool will start hitting the goals. We can do it in the Champions League, we will transfer it to the Premiership. At the least it wasn't a performance that allowed another easy shot to go in. Considering last season, we were not competitive enough against Utd. Benitez isn't looking to suddenly jump into 1st place after the CL win. He almost has the players he wants, now he wants the mentality needed to make them strong, to anyone.
I think the players will look on today and should consider resolving what and where and how, for this non-scoring run is to come to an end now. Perhaps that is down to the players chosen, the formation, or the players themselves. At the end of the day, they are in good positions to score, it is, as Michael Owen stated, a matter of time and when we score more than one, we will score more often. Stuart Pearce said after Man City's defeat to Bolton today's defeat that "someone will pick up the tab for us getting beaten, I am sure of that."
Someone will be getting a similar bill when Liverpool start hitting more goals. And I don't care who.
RedsMan.
posted by RedsMan at 9/18/2005 09:05:00 pm
EFT match of the season for 2008/2009: Barcelona construct a masterclass footballing performance to defeat the reigning Champions League holders and current English champions, Manchester United, by a scoreline of 2-0 in the 2009 Champions League final in Rome
EFT player of the season for 2008/2009: Chelsea central midfielder, Frank Lampard
EFT player of the month for May 2009: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for April 2009: Andrey Arshavin (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for March 2009: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for February 2009: Phil Jagielka (Everton)
EFT player of the month for January 2009: Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd)
EFT player of the month for December 2008: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for November 2008: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for October 2008: Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for September 2008: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for August 2008: Amr Zaki (Wigan Athletic)
EFT match of Euro 2008: Turkey's amazing comeback from two goals down to beat Czech Republic 3-2 as captain Nihat Kahveci's two goals in the last three minutes sensationally put his country through to the quarter finals at the expense of their beaten opponents
EFT player of Euro 2008: Spain (anchor) central midfielder, Marcos Senna
EFT match of the season for 2007/2008: Liverpool win titanic Champions League quarter-final second leg 4-2 against Arsenal that also saw two of the best football moments of the season - Fernando Torres' top corner strike and Theo Walcott's thrilling run across the whole of Anfield.
EFT player of the season for 2007/2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for May 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for April 2008: Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
EFT player of the month for March 2008: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for February 2008: David James (Portsmouth)
EFT player of the month for January 2008: Ronaldo (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for December 2007: Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers)
EFT player of the month for November 2007: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for October 2007: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for September 2007: Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for August 2007: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for May 2007: Carlos Tevez (West Ham Utd)
EFT player of the month for April 2007: Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd)
EFT player of the month for March 2007: Carlos Tevez (West Ham Utd)
EFT player of the month for February 2007: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester Utd)
EFT player of the month for January 2007: Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for December 2006: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester Utd)
EFT player of the month for November 2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for October 2006: Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton Wanderers)
EFT player of the month for September 2006: Andrew Johnson (Everton)
EFT player of the month for August 2006: Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth)
EFT match of World Cup 2006: Italy win a thrilling 'end-to-end' World Cup semi-final 2-0 against Germany courtesy of two late extra time goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro del Piero 
EFT player of World Cup 2006: Italy captain and centre-back, Fabio Cannavaro
EFT match of the season for 2005-2006: Liverpool win the FA Cup final 3-1 on penalties against West Ham after a Steven Gerrard-led fighback saw the Anfield side recover from 2-0 and 3-2 down to level the match in normal time
EFT player of the month for May 2006: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for April 2006: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for March 2006: Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur)
EFT player of the month for February 2006: Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Middlesbrough)
EFT player of the month for January 2006: Jason Roberts (Wigan Athletic)
EFT player of the month for December 2005: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for November 2005: Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for October 2005: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for September 2005: Danny Murphy (Charlton Athletic)
EFT player of the month for August 2005: Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd)
EFT match of the season for 2004-2005: Liverpool win Champions League final 3-2 on penalties against AC Milan after sensationally recovering from 3-0 down to level the match in normal time
3 Comments:
As a neutral I found yesterday's match to be quite predictable.
Liverpool are the home team but they play just one man up-front- and that is the quite unprolific Peter Crouch.
Man Utd again set-up with a three man central midfield with Rooney and Ronaldo quite ineffectual in the hole. RVN craves crosses in the box a'la from Beckham or Neville- but yet again he was starved.
Nil-nil was predicted in my household very early on. Only individual brilliance or an error was to gain the three points- but neither came. Mourinho must have watched the match with a smile on his face.
Everyone is attempting to copy his formation- but only he has mastered it.
Man Utd should get back to a fearsome 4-4-2. Since implementing 4-5-1 last season their goals ratio has plummeted.
And while the defensive 4-5-1 may work for the Pool in Europe when up against excellent teams- Benitez has to be more adventurous when it comes to the Premiership.
9/19/2005 12:31 pm
Agree, so many draws across the Premiership. It used to be the point was to accumulate points. In Europe knock-out rounds a more defensive approach makes a lot more sense. But when it works for teams like Everton and Bolton, how can you argue?
9/21/2005 1:16 am
All good points. In Europe it is more effective as the European teams take a different approach even if the formation is the same.
And as for the 4-4-2, couldnt agree more, I implore for this formation eagerly and urge for Crouch to have Cisse. Not only is Crouch not suitable as the lone striker, but the point was to use his height to knock on high balls or hold it up for a second striker.
With Sunday, RB must have been looking to withhold Utd rather than seek points. Now it is time to seek points, that is another way of withholding the opposition, attack is another form of defence.
Sympathetically, Liverpool are looking to soon confront the team that seem unstoppable and they have to mentally have the kind of balance with focus and determination to thwart them. Chelsea twice in quick succession isn't any team's welcoming duo of fixtures.
RedsMan.
9/21/2005 9:54 am
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