Liverpool travel to Middlesbrough seeking to prove their Premiership critics wrong.
These are not Liverpool Football Club’s finest hours.
As if the rumours of ongoing tensions between manager and owners and the worries over the club’s finances were not enough, the Reds are now stuttering on the pitch as well.
Two games into 2008 and Liverpool can boast nothing more a pair of 1-1 draws against Wigan Athletic and Luton Town.
As per usual, Rafael Benítez has copped most of the flak. But against Wigan at Anfield a week-and-a-half ago the Spaniard arguably picked (injuries permitting) his strongest side.
The foreign favourites (Torres, Alonso, Kewell, Mascherano) and the home-grown heroes (Gerrard, Carragher) were all there – they just didn’t perform.
Gerrard in particular was a major culprit in that match, repeatedly failing to stick to his appointed position higher up the pitch, thus allowing Wigan the room to stride forward. And it was the captain’s hashed clearance that permitted Titus Bramble to drill in the Latics’ equaliser.
Not that Liverpool performed any better minus their leader at Luton, mind. Two years ago, against the same team at the same ground in the same round of the FA Cup, a supposedly less talented Liverpool selection saw off a Luton Town side undoubtedly better than that seen on Sunday 5-3.
True, the Reds weathered an almighty scare that day to eventually emerge triumphant, but the fact remains that they took the game to their opponents in 2006 and punished them when it mattered. Sunday’s poor effort didn’t come close to replicating the feat. Lacking both creativity and conviction, Liverpool meekly surrendered a lead they had obtained against the run of play.
They may win the rematch, but unless things improve anyone rational would back against the Reds replicating their FA Cup trophy success of 2006. With a game in hand but a gigantic 12 point deficit on league leaders Arsenal, this season’s much-heralded genuine title challenge also appears somewhat of a fallacy. Liverpool have never enjoyed games at Middlesbrough, but now would be a fine time to rediscover the winning habit.
Middlesbrough are a strange team. Great results like an away win at Portsmouth (neither Liverpool nor Manchester United could win at Fratton Park) and that superb 2-1 victory over league leaders Arsenal have been interspersed with a sorry 3-0 thrashing at Birmingham and comprehensive 2-0 loss at home to Everton.
Depending on which Middlesbrough and which Liverpool turn up, the outcome of this game could vary immensely. Liverpool may be favourites, but Boro have stopped the Reds from scoring in all of their last five trips to the Riverside. “Liverpool are a class side and it is always a big occasion when they come and play you,” said Boro boss Gareth Southgate.
Nevertheless, he knows his team need to pick up results in front of their own fans soon having notched just one win in their last seven. "Our home form hasn't been as good as it could have been so we've got to make this place an intimidating place to come to again,” he stressed.
But things aren’t all bad for Boro, and they defied many pundits by not falling victim to an FA Cup upset at Bristol City last weekend. “We have had three wins in six games, which would have been a decent record if we'd had a few draws as well,” added Southgate.
FORM GUIDE
Boro
Match Result Date Championship
Bristol City - Middlesbrough 1 - 2 05/01/2008 FA CUP
Middlesbrough - Everton 0 - 2 01/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Portsmouth - Middlesbrough 0 - 1 29/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Birmingham - Middlesbrough 3 - 0 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Middlesbrough - West Ham 1 - 2 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Derby - Middlesbrough 0 - 1 15/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool
Match Result Date Championship
Luton - Liverpool 1 - 1 06/01/2008 FA CUP
Liverpool - Wigan Athletic 1 - 1 02/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester City - Liverpool 0 - 0 30/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Derby - Liverpool 1 - 2 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Portsmouth 4 - 1 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Chelsea - Liverpool 2 - 0 19/12/2007 CARLING CUP
TEAM NEWS
Boro
Lee Cattermole and Julio Arca are both suspended, leaving Gareth Southgate with a few decisions to make in midfield. George Boateng has settled his differences with the boss and should play, Gary O’Neil may also earn a recall, but Woodgate (hamstring) and Tuncay (knee) are unlikely to figure. Wheather, who got the winner against Bristol City last weekend, should start in central defence
Likely XI (4-4-2): Schwarzer – Young, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz – O’Neil, Rochemback, Boateng, Downing – Hutchinson, Lee
Liverpool
Liverpool have an unusual wealth of central defensive options for this game: Daniel Agger is finally ready to return from his foot injury while Martin Skrtel completed his move from Zenit St. Petersburg on Friday. Reina, Arbeloa, Gerrard and Torres were all rested against Luton last weekend and should all start. It’s more or less a full squad available to Benítez, the exception being the Juventus-bound Mohamed Sissoko.
Likely XI (4-4-2): Reina – Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa – Pennant, Gerrard, Mascherano, Kewell – Torres, Voronin
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Boro – Mark Schwarzer
The Aussie goalkeeper often sums up Middlesbrough as a whole, alternating between brilliance and blunders. Liverpool will undoubtedly create chances in this game, so Schwarzer will need to be on top form to maintain Boro’s run of Riverside clean sheets against the Reds.
Liverpool – Steven Gerrard
After finally regaining form and enjoying a rich scoring spell, Gerrard hasn’t been quite the same against Christmas. The skipper will have to show both tenacity and vision to break through Middlesbrough’s stubborn defensive line on Saturday. With a great performance Gerrard can often drag along the rest of his team in a game they desperately need to win.
These are not Liverpool Football Club’s finest hours.
As if the rumours of ongoing tensions between manager and owners and the worries over the club’s finances were not enough, the Reds are now stuttering on the pitch as well.
Two games into 2008 and Liverpool can boast nothing more a pair of 1-1 draws against Wigan Athletic and Luton Town.
As per usual, Rafael Benítez has copped most of the flak. But against Wigan at Anfield a week-and-a-half ago the Spaniard arguably picked (injuries permitting) his strongest side.
The foreign favourites (Torres, Alonso, Kewell, Mascherano) and the home-grown heroes (Gerrard, Carragher) were all there – they just didn’t perform.
Gerrard in particular was a major culprit in that match, repeatedly failing to stick to his appointed position higher up the pitch, thus allowing Wigan the room to stride forward. And it was the captain’s hashed clearance that permitted Titus Bramble to drill in the Latics’ equaliser.
Not that Liverpool performed any better minus their leader at Luton, mind. Two years ago, against the same team at the same ground in the same round of the FA Cup, a supposedly less talented Liverpool selection saw off a Luton Town side undoubtedly better than that seen on Sunday 5-3.
True, the Reds weathered an almighty scare that day to eventually emerge triumphant, but the fact remains that they took the game to their opponents in 2006 and punished them when it mattered. Sunday’s poor effort didn’t come close to replicating the feat. Lacking both creativity and conviction, Liverpool meekly surrendered a lead they had obtained against the run of play.
They may win the rematch, but unless things improve anyone rational would back against the Reds replicating their FA Cup trophy success of 2006. With a game in hand but a gigantic 12 point deficit on league leaders Arsenal, this season’s much-heralded genuine title challenge also appears somewhat of a fallacy. Liverpool have never enjoyed games at Middlesbrough, but now would be a fine time to rediscover the winning habit.
Middlesbrough are a strange team. Great results like an away win at Portsmouth (neither Liverpool nor Manchester United could win at Fratton Park) and that superb 2-1 victory over league leaders Arsenal have been interspersed with a sorry 3-0 thrashing at Birmingham and comprehensive 2-0 loss at home to Everton.
Depending on which Middlesbrough and which Liverpool turn up, the outcome of this game could vary immensely. Liverpool may be favourites, but Boro have stopped the Reds from scoring in all of their last five trips to the Riverside. “Liverpool are a class side and it is always a big occasion when they come and play you,” said Boro boss Gareth Southgate.
Nevertheless, he knows his team need to pick up results in front of their own fans soon having notched just one win in their last seven. "Our home form hasn't been as good as it could have been so we've got to make this place an intimidating place to come to again,” he stressed.
But things aren’t all bad for Boro, and they defied many pundits by not falling victim to an FA Cup upset at Bristol City last weekend. “We have had three wins in six games, which would have been a decent record if we'd had a few draws as well,” added Southgate.
FORM GUIDE
Boro
Match Result Date Championship
Bristol City - Middlesbrough 1 - 2 05/01/2008 FA CUP
Middlesbrough - Everton 0 - 2 01/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Portsmouth - Middlesbrough 0 - 1 29/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Birmingham - Middlesbrough 3 - 0 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Middlesbrough - West Ham 1 - 2 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Derby - Middlesbrough 0 - 1 15/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool
Match Result Date Championship
Luton - Liverpool 1 - 1 06/01/2008 FA CUP
Liverpool - Wigan Athletic 1 - 1 02/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester City - Liverpool 0 - 0 30/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Derby - Liverpool 1 - 2 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Portsmouth 4 - 1 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Chelsea - Liverpool 2 - 0 19/12/2007 CARLING CUP
TEAM NEWS
Boro
Lee Cattermole and Julio Arca are both suspended, leaving Gareth Southgate with a few decisions to make in midfield. George Boateng has settled his differences with the boss and should play, Gary O’Neil may also earn a recall, but Woodgate (hamstring) and Tuncay (knee) are unlikely to figure. Wheather, who got the winner against Bristol City last weekend, should start in central defence
Likely XI (4-4-2): Schwarzer – Young, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz – O’Neil, Rochemback, Boateng, Downing – Hutchinson, Lee
Liverpool
Liverpool have an unusual wealth of central defensive options for this game: Daniel Agger is finally ready to return from his foot injury while Martin Skrtel completed his move from Zenit St. Petersburg on Friday. Reina, Arbeloa, Gerrard and Torres were all rested against Luton last weekend and should all start. It’s more or less a full squad available to Benítez, the exception being the Juventus-bound Mohamed Sissoko.
Likely XI (4-4-2): Reina – Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa – Pennant, Gerrard, Mascherano, Kewell – Torres, Voronin
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Boro – Mark Schwarzer
The Aussie goalkeeper often sums up Middlesbrough as a whole, alternating between brilliance and blunders. Liverpool will undoubtedly create chances in this game, so Schwarzer will need to be on top form to maintain Boro’s run of Riverside clean sheets against the Reds.
Liverpool – Steven Gerrard
After finally regaining form and enjoying a rich scoring spell, Gerrard hasn’t been quite the same against Christmas. The skipper will have to show both tenacity and vision to break through Middlesbrough’s stubborn defensive line on Saturday. With a great performance Gerrard can often drag along the rest of his team in a game they desperately need to win.
1 comment:
With the ever growing speculations on Rafa's future, what's your thoughts? Should he go or should he stay?
In my opinion, I think he is a victim of his early success during the first 2 seasons. Resulted in unrealistic expectations from our own set of fans. Media has blown this issue out of proportion and honestly, I think it is getting into our players as well. Look at their performance. No spirit to speak of whatsoever. It's time the players respond in a positive manner. I just felt that this is turning into a martin jol affair...the pressure on Rafa is way to great for him to handle. It's time for the owners or Parry to step up and silence the media. Cut Rafa some slack. Let him do his job. Let him concentrate on boosting the players' confidence and not worrying about his future. Let the players concentrate on doing a good job and without any worries on the gaffer's future or even their own future.
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