LIVERPOOL march on as another historically difficult fixture is dealt with, but boy they made hard work of it.
The amount of chances that we squander is starting to concern me, and these long periods with a slender lead can be excruciating. Coupled with the woodwork and posts conspiring against us and you get the feeling we are going to come unstuck soon as proved in the Spurs league fixture.
Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard were the offenders on Saturday. I am happy with Robbie’s contribution but it was a horrible miss and I thought after his brace against West Brom that he would really start to take off. He just needs to keep battling and I’m sure the goals will become more consistent. He obviously disagrees with the decision to substitute him regularly but at the end of the day he is starting games which prove Rafa Benitez has faith in him.
Gerrard thankfully atoned for his miss as Fernando Torres provided how good a winger he is also! I think something we have lost in recent years is the headed goals from Gerrard. I recall the treble season when Gary McAllister was taking corners that Gerrard got on the end of quite a few times. With the latter now the corner taker we obviously then lose his threat in the box. Perhaps Xabi Alonso or Fabio Aurelio could take these? Just a thought, Rafa.
On to Aurelio and it looks like Dirk Kuyt has given him some of his magic potion because he looks like a player transformed; and the two linked up excellently for the first goal. The signs are promising as players who were struggling are now finding some real form. But my main gripe still is the missed chances that we are seeing week in, week out. Chelsea doesn’t seem to have this problem and they are ruthlessly dispatching teams with ease.
They are the benchmark and our players need to become more sharper when presented with opportunities and look for that crucial two-goal cushion.
Analysis shows that the majority of our league victories are by one goal margins. In the crazy world of the Premiership these can be so quickly wiped out, so come on give us some boring four or five nil wins please!
The amount of chances that we squander is starting to concern me, and these long periods with a slender lead can be excruciating. Coupled with the woodwork and posts conspiring against us and you get the feeling we are going to come unstuck soon as proved in the Spurs league fixture.
Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard were the offenders on Saturday. I am happy with Robbie’s contribution but it was a horrible miss and I thought after his brace against West Brom that he would really start to take off. He just needs to keep battling and I’m sure the goals will become more consistent. He obviously disagrees with the decision to substitute him regularly but at the end of the day he is starting games which prove Rafa Benitez has faith in him.
Gerrard thankfully atoned for his miss as Fernando Torres provided how good a winger he is also! I think something we have lost in recent years is the headed goals from Gerrard. I recall the treble season when Gary McAllister was taking corners that Gerrard got on the end of quite a few times. With the latter now the corner taker we obviously then lose his threat in the box. Perhaps Xabi Alonso or Fabio Aurelio could take these? Just a thought, Rafa.
On to Aurelio and it looks like Dirk Kuyt has given him some of his magic potion because he looks like a player transformed; and the two linked up excellently for the first goal. The signs are promising as players who were struggling are now finding some real form. But my main gripe still is the missed chances that we are seeing week in, week out. Chelsea doesn’t seem to have this problem and they are ruthlessly dispatching teams with ease.
They are the benchmark and our players need to become more sharper when presented with opportunities and look for that crucial two-goal cushion.
Analysis shows that the majority of our league victories are by one goal margins. In the crazy world of the Premiership these can be so quickly wiped out, so come on give us some boring four or five nil wins please!
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