After Manchester City last weekend, it was important we produced a decent performance in Romania.
Our often conservative play tends to change as soon as we concede, as was the case when Unirea Urziceni took the lead on Thursday night.
When we have to come out and play, we look much more dangerous. Istanbul was a prime example.
Sometimes you’re almost willing a team to score against us to spark us into life.
That’s what happened in Bucharest where Urziceni gave us a wake-up call.
Thankfully we had creativity with the likes of Yossi Benayoun, Steve Gerrard and even Ryan Babel to a certain degree, who did well for his goal.
I still expect him to leave in the summer and believe the only reason he’s still here is probably because the banks would have swallowed any transfer fee and it’s better for Rafa to utilise an extra body in the squad.
Either way, this was one of Babel’s better games for Liverpool. His goal was superb. He displayed a bit more energy than usual, plus he did well in the first leg, creating the goal when he came on.
If Benayoun doesn’t play we struggle on the left. Babel blows hot and cold but, on Thursday’s showing, could be worth using until the end of the season.
I can’t work out why David Ngog is still playing as a lone striker though.
I’ve mentioned it before in recent weeks but he simply can’t play up there on his own.
He can’t hold the ball up well enough and perservering with him will only knock his confidence in the long run.
Having Fernando Torres back is a massive plus.
Rafa didn’t play him in Bucharest and rightly so. He’s wrapping Torres in cotton wool but I’d expect him to figure against Blackburn tomorrow.
It’s another week down the line in terms of match fitness but I wouldn’t expect too much from him yet.
Our often conservative play tends to change as soon as we concede, as was the case when Unirea Urziceni took the lead on Thursday night.
When we have to come out and play, we look much more dangerous. Istanbul was a prime example.
Sometimes you’re almost willing a team to score against us to spark us into life.
That’s what happened in Bucharest where Urziceni gave us a wake-up call.
Thankfully we had creativity with the likes of Yossi Benayoun, Steve Gerrard and even Ryan Babel to a certain degree, who did well for his goal.
I still expect him to leave in the summer and believe the only reason he’s still here is probably because the banks would have swallowed any transfer fee and it’s better for Rafa to utilise an extra body in the squad.
Either way, this was one of Babel’s better games for Liverpool. His goal was superb. He displayed a bit more energy than usual, plus he did well in the first leg, creating the goal when he came on.
If Benayoun doesn’t play we struggle on the left. Babel blows hot and cold but, on Thursday’s showing, could be worth using until the end of the season.
I can’t work out why David Ngog is still playing as a lone striker though.
I’ve mentioned it before in recent weeks but he simply can’t play up there on his own.
He can’t hold the ball up well enough and perservering with him will only knock his confidence in the long run.
Having Fernando Torres back is a massive plus.
Rafa didn’t play him in Bucharest and rightly so. He’s wrapping Torres in cotton wool but I’d expect him to figure against Blackburn tomorrow.
It’s another week down the line in terms of match fitness but I wouldn’t expect too much from him yet.
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