LIVERPOOL 1-0 UNIREA URZICENI
i felt there was a great support for the team last night not many empty seats for at the end of the day it is our season's consolation cup.
to be fair RAFA treated this game with respect also i think realising that the fans are looking for any kind of silverware as they have seen a few barren years.
THE TEAM-
i was happy enough with the team selection AQUALANI, REIRA and AURELIO getting rare starts the rest of the team being more or less regulars proving RAFA wasn't taking this game lightly.
personally i would have liked to have seen BABEL start on the left midfield but at least he came on.but like i say i was happy enough with the team.
GERRARD and RAFA chat during a stoppage in play
THE MATCH-
LIVERPOOL got off to a flyer in the 1st minute robbing the ball from UNIREA'S kick off and going straight down the field with KUYT playing a lovely little flick through to GERRARD side footed a shot that was heading straight into the top corner when the UNIREA keeper made a great diving save touching out for a corner. this lifted the crowd and there was a feeling like it would be how many tonight. KUYT was looking lively down the right puting in some dangerous crosses and once flashing a great effort right across the face of goal which the UNIREA keeper did well to get a hand on.
but after the bright start the game developed into a pattern with LIVERPOOL controlling the game and UNIREA camped in their own half defending deep.
GERRARD with one of his wayward headers
UNIREA offered nothing as an attacking force, but LIVERPOOL with all their possession never created much at all a few aimless crosses GERRARD had a couple of decent chances with headers but they went wayward.the crowd also became quiet with the team not giving them anything to cheer about, the game became so pedestrian with th feeling that it was going to be one of those nights.
LIVERPOOL expecting something to happen rather than making it happen , there was such a lack of energy that it gave the appearanc of a training match at melwood, i think a few players were thinking about sunday's match rather than this one.
the second half wasn't getting any better in fact i thought it was getting worse LIVERPOOL being frustrated by UNIREA'S defending, in fairness UNIREA defended superbly puting their bodies on the line to block every LIVERPOOL attempt which was becoming mostly from long range efforts.
desperate for a change BABEL was sent on for REIRA and soon after PACHECO was sent on as well. this seemed to lift the crowd and BABEL especially seemed to be seeing a lot of the ball and looked up for it running at the defence at every opportunity.
the goal eventually came on 81 minutes when BABEL down the left cut in on his right foot pu over a perfect cross for the diminutive PACHECO who slipped in between 2 defenders and placed a perfect header across goal towards N'GOG who bravely dived to header the ball into the UNIREA net with a defender tightly marking him.
REACTION-
very pedestrian performance, but another clean sheet , another win and great to see PACHECO and BABEL making an impact and looking very promising.
MAN OF THE MATCH-
KUYT i thought his attitude and work rate was superb trying to make things happen when others around him were going through the motions.
YNWA
Liverpool had a very strong team out but in the starting 11 we lacked a player who could dribble there way through a tight defence or that creative spark to put in a decent thru ball. Aquilani is meant to provide that creative spark but we did not see any of it. When Babel and Pacheco came on we had them sparks and we got the break through because of it. For sundays game I would replace Ngog with Babel in a striking role and bring in Benayoun for the ineffective Aquilani. Pacheco should also keep his place on the bench.
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