Fa barclaycard Premiership News
Liverpool through but are they good enough to challenge Chelsea and Manchester United?
Clueless. No width. No ideas. No penetration. All these things have been said about Liverpool last night before Dirk Kuyt the 118th minute winning goal against the champions of Belgium Standard Liege.
When Kuyt side-foot home an excellent cross Babel at the end after this meant that Liverpool had just about managed to scrape in the group stages of the Champions League. It was a result neutral May have felt a little unfair.
The fact is that the qualification is especially important, and how Liverpool have is largely irrelevant. If Steven Gerrard is holding aloft the trophy of the Champions League next May after Liverpool win for the sixth time, nobody remembers how poor they looked very ordinary against the Liege side in the qualifying round.
The concern for Liverpool fans after the game is that the prospect of a Champions League win or, dare I say, a challenge for the Premier League title, seems farther than ever.
However, Liverpool have won their two league games with late goals in unimpressive fashion as well and they have settled for six points and Champions League qualification, a few weeks ago. They say that great teams win when they do not play well. Liverpool are certainly not play. If or not they are a great team is more open to question.
After Liverpool was a bit of luck to leave Liege with a goalless draw in the first stage, they were expected to show an improvement at home. It was not the case and during the last night's game at Anfield they survived the early alerts when Pepe Reina has produced two excellent saves.
Liverpool lack of width was easily exposed by Liege, which deals comfortably with the home side attempted attacks by the middle of their defence.
When Liverpool finally have a view on a target area, the enigma is that Dirk Kuyt heading a head of the post disappointing wide just before half-time.
Liege sat back after half time and tried to contain Liverpool and click on the break.
The game has become a less exciting affair as Liverpool and Huff blown, but not quality product. They continued to fight to find a way through their opponents well-organized, without ever really look like doing so.
Just before full-time Liverpool has a moment of real concern when De Camargo had a chance to dive head he has made just wide of the post. Had it been, few people have begrudged Standard Liege victory they would probably have roughly deserved.
In extra-time Liverpool pressed forward, again without much purpose, but they were then denied a clear penalty when Oguchi Onyewu reduced Nabil El Zhar. The decision to play by the Swiss referee was a mystifying effect as it is well placed to see the flagrant misconduct.
Then came the goal which won by the man who can do no wrong Rafa Benitez in the eyes. Indeed, Dirk Kuyt has often produced the goods in big games and have scored a few goals more important than he poached last night. The fact is that Benitez is solely responsible in Europe that would have been Kuyt on the ground in the 118th minute. It was terrible.
Benitez was quick to praise the much criticised Dutch international after the match and it should have been. May It must be clear that it still has a job to him! "We must give credit Kuyt because sometimes when he made a mistake people highlight. But you could see for 120 minutes how he works hard and he is an incredible player for each team. He never hides and is the kind of player who is very important and it is a fantastic professional. "
Liverpool fans this morning, especially hearing the news that Steven Gerrard will be for some time because of a groin problem and will miss games at Manchester United, feel a mixture of relief and anxiety.
They know that their team contains a huge quantity and quality that at times they can be a match for anyone. They also know that this is a season where they must prove they are up there with the best.
They did what they should do, but they have not done with any style or any suggestion that they have what it takes to contest the first two. Time will tell if they can close the gap but the show last night suggests that they still have some way to go.
When Kuyt side-foot home an excellent cross Babel at the end after this meant that Liverpool had just about managed to scrape in the group stages of the Champions League. It was a result neutral May have felt a little unfair.
The fact is that the qualification is especially important, and how Liverpool have is largely irrelevant. If Steven Gerrard is holding aloft the trophy of the Champions League next May after Liverpool win for the sixth time, nobody remembers how poor they looked very ordinary against the Liege side in the qualifying round.
The concern for Liverpool fans after the game is that the prospect of a Champions League win or, dare I say, a challenge for the Premier League title, seems farther than ever.
However, Liverpool have won their two league games with late goals in unimpressive fashion as well and they have settled for six points and Champions League qualification, a few weeks ago. They say that great teams win when they do not play well. Liverpool are certainly not play. If or not they are a great team is more open to question.
After Liverpool was a bit of luck to leave Liege with a goalless draw in the first stage, they were expected to show an improvement at home. It was not the case and during the last night's game at Anfield they survived the early alerts when Pepe Reina has produced two excellent saves.
Liverpool lack of width was easily exposed by Liege, which deals comfortably with the home side attempted attacks by the middle of their defence.
When Liverpool finally have a view on a target area, the enigma is that Dirk Kuyt heading a head of the post disappointing wide just before half-time.
Liege sat back after half time and tried to contain Liverpool and click on the break.
The game has become a less exciting affair as Liverpool and Huff blown, but not quality product. They continued to fight to find a way through their opponents well-organized, without ever really look like doing so.
Just before full-time Liverpool has a moment of real concern when De Camargo had a chance to dive head he has made just wide of the post. Had it been, few people have begrudged Standard Liege victory they would probably have roughly deserved.
In extra-time Liverpool pressed forward, again without much purpose, but they were then denied a clear penalty when Oguchi Onyewu reduced Nabil El Zhar. The decision to play by the Swiss referee was a mystifying effect as it is well placed to see the flagrant misconduct.
Then came the goal which won by the man who can do no wrong Rafa Benitez in the eyes. Indeed, Dirk Kuyt has often produced the goods in big games and have scored a few goals more important than he poached last night. The fact is that Benitez is solely responsible in Europe that would have been Kuyt on the ground in the 118th minute. It was terrible.
Benitez was quick to praise the much criticised Dutch international after the match and it should have been. May It must be clear that it still has a job to him! "We must give credit Kuyt because sometimes when he made a mistake people highlight. But you could see for 120 minutes how he works hard and he is an incredible player for each team. He never hides and is the kind of player who is very important and it is a fantastic professional. "
Liverpool fans this morning, especially hearing the news that Steven Gerrard will be for some time because of a groin problem and will miss games at Manchester United, feel a mixture of relief and anxiety.
They know that their team contains a huge quantity and quality that at times they can be a match for anyone. They also know that this is a season where they must prove they are up there with the best.
They did what they should do, but they have not done with any style or any suggestion that they have what it takes to contest the first two. Time will tell if they can close the gap but the show last night suggests that they still have some way to go.
by soccernews.com
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