The performance against Stoke was the perfect response to last Sunday’s setback at Tottenham.
What happened at White Hart Lane was hugely disappointing.
It looked to me as though a lot of players needed to get 90 minutes under their belts.
Pre-season wasn’t the best with players coming back late and other things happening plus the injuries.
I don’t think the team that started at Spurs had played enough minutes together. Tottenham’s preparations were better and it showed as they were a yard quicker than us in the first half.
It took until the second half for us to get going but the lack of options on the bench underlined the problems.
Our second string players just aren’t quite up to it. It’s a massive season for the fringe players and when they get a chance they have to take it.
Ryan Babel has had so many chances but for me he doesn’t seem to want it badly enough. Babel seemed to let the game pass him by and if he’s not careful his Liverpool career will pass him by as well.
Yossi Benayoun made a big difference when he came on and showed he wants to make that position his own.
Everyone was looking for a reaction against Stoke and we got it.
Glen Johnson has really impressed and given us a new dimension going forward. Teams have been doubling up on him and that creates space in other areas for the likes of Steven Gerrard to exploit.
Rafa has clearly told his full-backs to get forward whenever they get the chance and their contribution is going to be pivotal.
It was a baptism of fire for young Daniel Ayala against a team who play percentage football but he did well. He showed he has got talent and those 90 minutes will do him the world of good.
A lot has been said about Lucas.
In the last couple of years he hasn’t really warranted a place in the team but with Xabi Alonso gone he now has an opportunity to show what he can do.
Give the lad some credit, he has done OK in the two games so far and now he needs to build on that.
Rafa has clearly seen something in him that fans and ex-players haven’t.
We only say or write what we see and give our opinion. The fact is I would love nothing more than Lucas to succeed at Liverpool.
Aston Villa come to Anfield on Monday and we must take the game to them in the same way we did last March. That 5-0 win was fantastic and they will be worried about a repeat.
What happened at White Hart Lane was hugely disappointing.
It looked to me as though a lot of players needed to get 90 minutes under their belts.
Pre-season wasn’t the best with players coming back late and other things happening plus the injuries.
I don’t think the team that started at Spurs had played enough minutes together. Tottenham’s preparations were better and it showed as they were a yard quicker than us in the first half.
It took until the second half for us to get going but the lack of options on the bench underlined the problems.
Our second string players just aren’t quite up to it. It’s a massive season for the fringe players and when they get a chance they have to take it.
Ryan Babel has had so many chances but for me he doesn’t seem to want it badly enough. Babel seemed to let the game pass him by and if he’s not careful his Liverpool career will pass him by as well.
Yossi Benayoun made a big difference when he came on and showed he wants to make that position his own.
Everyone was looking for a reaction against Stoke and we got it.
Glen Johnson has really impressed and given us a new dimension going forward. Teams have been doubling up on him and that creates space in other areas for the likes of Steven Gerrard to exploit.
Rafa has clearly told his full-backs to get forward whenever they get the chance and their contribution is going to be pivotal.
It was a baptism of fire for young Daniel Ayala against a team who play percentage football but he did well. He showed he has got talent and those 90 minutes will do him the world of good.
A lot has been said about Lucas.
In the last couple of years he hasn’t really warranted a place in the team but with Xabi Alonso gone he now has an opportunity to show what he can do.
Give the lad some credit, he has done OK in the two games so far and now he needs to build on that.
Rafa has clearly seen something in him that fans and ex-players haven’t.
We only say or write what we see and give our opinion. The fact is I would love nothing more than Lucas to succeed at Liverpool.
Aston Villa come to Anfield on Monday and we must take the game to them in the same way we did last March. That 5-0 win was fantastic and they will be worried about a repeat.
2 comments:
He is right about players coming up into the game as substitutes. With so many games to play they will have a pivotal role and if they want to earn a spot they will have to impress the manager and the fans. Babel must show he really wants to be a star and Johnson keep playing like he has until now. With a couple more games the whole team will be in sync and ready to fight for the title.
Players on the bench must show they are good enough to play for Liverpool.
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