So we had not won in two games: with a disappointing loss away at Tottenham and a penalty saving our blushes at home against Atletico Madrid in our midweek Champions League clash. What the Reds needed was a return to winning ways to maintain the league title challenge.
Liverpool delivered. It was the last fixture of the day in English football, and on a rainy night at Anfield, Liverpool hosted newly promoted West Bromwich Albion. West Brom are known for their possitive attacking mentality, despite really struggling for goals this season. And I really respected their confidence and willingness to get forward and try to take the game to us. It was a really pleasant change from having teams visit Anfield and try to put all 10 players behind the ball.
The starting lineup was Reina in goal, with a back four of Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, and Aurelio. In midfield we started Mascherano and our captain Gerrard in the middle running things, with wingers Riera and Benayoun on the flanks and two strikers up top in Robbie Keane and Dirk Kuyt. A nice possitive 4-4-2, so we could take the game to West Brom. The visitors started well, they kept the ball nicely and moved it about the pitch with pace and fluidity - had I not known better, I wouldn't have thought they were massive underdogs or a promoted side.
But Liverpool grew as the game went on. Chances started to be created, the first of which came from Yossi Benayoun who got through on goal. The Israel captain had a shot which was blocked by goalkeeper Scott Carson (who played 9 games for Liverpool) and the arm of Jonas Olsson. The referee, however, deemed that this handball was accidental and therefore did not award a penalty. In the 34th minute, the deadlock was broken when Robbie Keane scored his first premier league goal for the club he supported as a boy. The Irishman connected with Steven Gerrard's pass and scored with a great left foot finish.
For the remainder of the first half, the game was Liverpool's. Numerous chances were made and shortly before the half time whistle blew, Robbie Keane latched onto a great ball played by Fabio Aurelio. Keane rounded Carson and slotted in once more with his left foot into the open goal. The second half was more dull. West Brom never looked like breaking through until they put Chris Brunt on as a substitute. The young winger has got one hell of a cross and can take a good free kick - and his delivery was worrying for the Reds, though they dealt with it well.
At around the 70th minute the man of the match, Robbie Keane, was substituted off for Fernando Torres. It was great to see the Spaniard striker back on the pitch and while I think Keane should have been given the chance to complete his hattrick and perhaps Kuyt should have been taken off instead - I'm really looking forward to the prospect of a Torres-Keane partnership up front. Torres had one shot and participated in build up play, but if I'm honest the world's greatest striker didn't really have too many chances today. The scoring finished near the final whistle, when right back Alvaro Arbeloa received the ball in the box to score a left footed curler - making the final score 3-0.
The result makes the title race interesting. As you can see, (if you click the link) Liverpool are currently top with 29 points. This could change tomorrow as Chelsea have a higher goal difference and are playing tomorrow. Today's match between title rivals Arsenal and Manchester United was important. Arsenal have been in bad form lately, losing to the likes promoted teams Stoke and Hull City. Arsenal pulled off a big win against Liverpool's biggest rivals (playing some very good stuff too). But being 8 points clear of United and 6 points clear of Arsenal is fantastic for this stage of the season. We need to keep this up for the rest of the season. On a side note, I don't think I have ever seen the bottom half of the table so close. We're in for a very interesting season.
Well, a good win today. I'm very glad to see Robbie Keane looking like the player we paid so much for and I'm happy to see Fernando Torres on the pitch once again. Here's hoping for a Chelsea loss tomorrow. Until next time, my friends.
1 comment:
This continues to be very a well-written written account of game events. What I'd like to see is more analysis: of strategy, of your position as a spectator, or of the general culture of the game. Nice sustained posts, however, with a clear sense of audience.
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