Monday, 4 October 2010

Liverpool left traumatised by the Tangerines

Embarrassing. Humiliating. Disgusting. Disgraceful.

The list of adjectives (or expletives, if you prefer) that one could use to describe not only our performance yesterday, but also our current plight, is seemingly endless.

Liverpool fell to a 2-1 reverse at home to Blackpool this weekend to add yet another chapter to the worryingly large catalogue of pain and shame that has summarised our abysmal season up to this spirit-sapping point.

Two first half goals from Adam and Varney gave the dominant Blackpool a substantial lead to cling onto for the second 45 minutes. Kyrgiakos' headed goal on 53 minutes failed to spark the expected comeback from the home side and the visitors managed to hold out for an historic victory.

With Jamie Carragher filling in at left back for the first time since 2004 an unstable Liverpool defence suffered a deluge during the opening stages as the Seasiders fearlessly took the game to their under whelming hosts.

Only two minutes in Charlie Adam forced Reina to make an excellent save from the Blackpool captain's free kick as he thundered a low strike goalwards after Martin Skrtel had brought down DJ Campbell on the edge of the Liverpool box.

A minute later Joe Cole was inches away from tapping Torres' right wing cross home, before Blackpool threatened again as Taylor-Fletcher’s low ball into the box just evaded the run of the menacing Campbell.

On 10 minutes Liverpool were severely weakened, as Fernando Torres had to be replaced by young striker David Ngog after the Spaniard had pulled up with a suspected groin injury.

It was a demoralising moment for Liverpool, and must have left Torres devastated as he was just starting to build up his match fitness again after a large spell on the sidelines.

With a quarter of an hour played Campbell fired over the bar from close range at the back post after a searching cross had picked him out in the penalty area. It was a very good opportunity and he should have at least tested Pepe Reina with an effort on goal.

Liverpool then had two attempts on goal themselves as Kyrgiakos' headed effort was cleared off the line after Gerrard's shot had been easily collected by Gilks in the visitors' goal minutes earlier.

However, it was Blackpool who were controlling the game and creating clearer chances, and they eventually claimed a dramatic lead on 29 minutes as Glen Johnson unceremoniously dumped Varney on his back side in the penalty area after the counter-attacking striker had cut inside the England right back, exposing both Johnson's bad body position and other defensive frailties.

It was a stonewall penalty which Adam managed to squeeze past the keeper and into the net, beating Reina even though the Spanish keeper got a big hand to the ball and could (quite possibly should) have done better.

Taking the lead at Anfield and scoring in front of the famous Kop Grandstand only spurred Blackpool on further as they continued to put the Reds backline under pressure, with both Campbell and Crainey stinging the palms of Pepe Reina with strikes from the edge of the area minutes before the break.

In contrast, Liverpool were lacking imagination and purpose in their play (how many times have I typed that this season?) and failed to call Gilks into any serious action.

Kuyt's header and Cole's 18 yard shot were the only times the keeper was even remotely tested, and even then he only had to make routine saves as Liverpool simply lacked any sort of firepower.

In the first minute of first half injury time Liverpool's situation got even worse as Luke Varney grabbed a second for the visitors to double their lead and quadruple our agony. Taylor-Fletcher found the well-timed run of Varney who slammed in the ball into the corner of the net, leaving Reina with no chance.

With Torres substituted and a two-goal deficit hanging over our heads the atmosphere was flat as misery clouded over Anfield forebodingly. It was going to take a comeback of Istanbul-like proportions for us to recover from this humiliation, and our form suggested that that was incredibly unlikely.

On 47 minutes Ngog stretched to reach Kuyt's cross but unfortunately he could only head wide. After that a clever, quick free kick from Steven Gerrard was headed home off the cross bar by Kyrgiakos.

It was a good goal from the big Greek, which sparked hopes of another epic Anfield turnaround to add to the vast array of treasured memories from other enthralling, and often European, home games.

We went agonisingly close to fulfilling that hope on the hour mark as the advancing Jamie Carragher controlled a long throw out from the quick-thinking Pepe Reina. Carra then slid the ball into the path of Joe Cole, however the Londoner's shot somehow trickled inches beyond the far post, with most Reds already convinced that he had grabbed the leveller.

Liverpool kept on probing, searching for an equaliser, however clear-cut opportunities were few and far between as the away side defended resolutely whilst we toiled in vain. Gerrard's left footed volley spun wide of the goal before Meireles' shot was blocked as the frustration within Anfield grew.

This irritation was heightened further on 71 minutes when the Reds were denied an obvious penalty by referee Mike Jones. The ball blatantly hit both of Charlie Adam's hands just inside the box and yet Jones ignored the cries for a spot kick.

It just wasn't going to be our day. By that stage it was clear, as we failed to fashion any serious chances with the midfield struggling to support Ngog, who was plying a lone furrow up front.

Two minutes before injury time Gerrard's probing ball picked out Kuyt at the back stick, however Kuyt's position meant that his header lacked power. It was easily stopped by the keeper as Blackpool became increasingly confident of victory.

In a desperate attempt to salvage something from what had been a terrible match Hodgson threw Kyrgiakos up front, and it nearly worked as the tall centre back arrowed a header goalwards. Unfortunately Gilks was on top form to push Soto's bullet like header away to safety.

After such a diabolical display boos rightly rung around Anfield as the fans, who had intended to witness a comfortable victory before demonstrating against the American owners, turned on both the players and the manager.

The protests against Hicks and Gillett remained, however the chants demanding the departure of the despised duo were interspersed with calls for the sacking of Hodgson and the re-appointment of Kenny Dalglish as manager.

The times are desperate at our once great football club. The players and the manager are under-performing and, more importantly, Hicks and Gillett still have control in the boardroom.

I have already accepted that this season will almost certainly be much worse than even last year and I, along with the majority of fans with the club's interest at heart, am now concentrating on ousting the Yanks. Their debt and lies have constantly undermined the team's performance and it is time for them to leave.

If we can rid ourselves of the parasites this October then I'll be happy with a top-half finish.

Let's keep on fighting and making our opinions heard.

YNWA

1 comment:

  1. 'I have already accepted that this season will almost certainly be much worse than even last year and I, along with the majority of fans with the club's interest at heart, am now concentrating on ousting the Yanks.'

    Well said.

    ReplyDelete