Results tagged “arbeloa” from Liverpool Echo - Another Red Letter Day
IN THE last 12 months, any criticism of Liverpool has been along the lines of questioning us as a real attacking force.
But with seven goals conceded in our first four league games, is it time for questions marks to hover over our leaky defence?
A SLIGHT despondency seems to have set in amongst the Reds ranks in the last couple of weeks.
Fans who were generally positive in Jun and July now have a sombre look about them and there is the odd muttering about difficult times ahead.
Not that pre-season form is much of an indicator, but there has been a lack of cohesive form in most of Liverpool's friendlies in recent months.
Most worryingly for me, all thoughts of signing one more top class attacking player seems to have gone out the window as attentions have suddenly turned to finding a fourth-in-line centre half.
SO, Xabi has asked for a transfer request. Let's be honest, we knew the lad was going a long time ago, didn't we?
I THOUGHT we would have a disinterested air for this game, the league title having been sown up the previous day by United drawing with Arsenal.
But all thoughts of any Liverpool apathy was dispelled by the sight of Carragher and Arbeloa coming to blows in front of baying Albion fans.
I HAD this game down as a tricky one in the title challenge run-in.
As it transpired, this was as pleasant a stroll as we've had in many a season down in East London.
WHAT a game.
Tuesday's match against Arsenal will surely go down as one of the greatest in recent Premiership history.
But for Liverpool it was a damaging result.
What a difference a couple of weeks makes.
Last weekend's drubbing of Man Utd was seen by many as a sweet postscript to a league campaign of so many what-might-have-beens.
Fast forward seven days, a Fulham win over the Mancs here, a routing of Villa by a rampant Liverpool there, and suddenly the title race is back in the mix.
You can be certain it's been a good night for Liverpool when much-maligned full back Andrea Dossena sprints 60 yards to get into the box, controls and fires into the net of the best keeper in the world with aplomb.
IF EVER there was a recipe for a dire night in Europe, tonight was it.
Struggling to keep in touch with Man Utd in the Premiership, rumours about Rafa's job sweeping the city.
But then this is Liverpool. And a 1-0 win at the Bernabeu cauldron against a bang in form Real Madrid side, when the rest of the world is sniping, is pretty much par for the course for us.
THERE were two emotions uppermost in my mind moments after having watched Liverpool snatch an improbable victory from the jaws of defeat at Portsmouth.
Elation that we had managed to secure three crucial points in such dramatic, kamikaze circumstances.
But frustration and anger that loyal fans were being forced to try and understand the inexplicability of one of the most baffling Liverpool starting elevens, and its resulting formation, in years.
AND so to Goodison as for the second time in a week we couldn't find a way to beat a much-depleted but battling Everton side.
No two games could have more perfectly summed up Liverpool's currentl failings in a season that still promises to deliver so much.
Firstly, apologies for the late posting of this blog. It's been one of those weekends...
Secondly, hats off to the first three points from of a six-game run of MUST win encounters, that could determine if we win the league this season.
West Brom, Bolton, Fulham, West Ham, Blackburn, Hull are the next challengers for the Reds.
And with respect to them all, a team like ours, performing as we are, should be looking at getting 18 points.
Firstly, apologies for a lack of bloggage in recent weeks as I've been sunning myself in warmer climes.
And what a filip to return home to a Liverpool side playing with such belief, purpose, and ultimately, adventure.
Rarely in recent years has a Liverpool win been celebrated with such unbridled abandon when the admirable Dirk snatched all three points for us on Sunday.
From the pits of despair in the first half to a second half onslaught which saw the better side deservedly taking all the spoils.
As one Echo colleague correctly remarked to me today: "We've now got leaders all over the pitch."
AFTER last season's catastrophic start to our Champions League campaign, which left us playing desperate catch-up football for the last three matches, an early three points was the most crucial requirement form last night's visit to Marseille.
It was an interesting evening in many ways, and we were a touch fortunate to walk away with all the spoils after a semi-onslaught from the impressive Frenchmen.
IT'S always an entertaining madcap ride counting down the last few hours to transfer deadline.
Tracking the live text on the BBC website from 9pm to midnight has become a 'must-do' activity as the rumours get sillier and the cash gets brasher.
For our part, there was some frenzied activity at Anfield even if it wasn't quite on the Robinho/Berbatov £30m scale.
And it signalled the end of an Anfield career for one of the most genuine, hard-working and honest Reds players over the last five years.
ROBBIE Keane must wonder who the hell he's signed for.
The centre forward is being told to play as a midfielder, as a left winger, there are balls whistling past his earlobes, and he hardly got one shred of decent service to him all afternoon.
That said, Liverpool fans must wonder who the hell we've brought.
Four yards clear, running in on goal, the supposed lightning quick frontman gets caught by that football legend Nigel Reo-Coker and limps a gilt-edged chance wide.
THREE wins, one draw since the season started. Only one goal conceded.
Joint top of the league and in the Champions League proper.
Yet it all feels so very depressing.
WITH 80 MINUTES on the clock at the Stadium of Light, I might as well have just copy and pasted my blog after the Standard Liege game, posted it under the heading 'Sunderland Game', and nobody would have been any the wiser.
Fortunately, the best striker in the world popped up to spare our ever increasing blushes on Saturday evening.
It's dropped points away at mid-table sides like Sunderland that has prevented us from getting close to Man Utd and Chelsea in recent years.
And I'd go so far to say that Torres's thumping strike was massive, already, in terms of our season.
GOOD job Pepe Reina was Man of the Match, wasn't it?
Any early season optimism was shattered by a a thoroughly dispiriting 90 minutes of football by us last night.
Still, it's early days and we'll defintely get much, much, much better.
But, we hardly looked like a new-look Liverpool team ready to launch our first proper assault on the Premiership title for years, did we?
THE start of the new season approaches faster than we think doesn't it?
A week on Saturday we make the trip to The Stadium of Light for Sunderland.
I wouldn't be surprised if there some frenetic transfer activity over the next fortnight as Rafa looks to hone his squad for the coming campaign.
