Monday 30 August 2010

LIVERPOOL 1-0 WEST BROMWICH ALBION MATCH REPORT

                              MATCH REPORT     

A win was the only option for Liverpool in this fixture against newly promoted West Brom. After dropping five points out of a possible six this was a must win game for Liverpool with more difficult fixtures on the horizon after the international break. On the back of a very good win in Turkey on Thursday, Liverpool were looking to build some momentum and string some results together and a home game against West Brom seemingly being a home banker for the Reds.                
                                                    THE TEAM

After resting many players in midweek in Turkey Hodgson brought back his big guns for this game. His team selection on Thursday working well by resting many players and also winning the tie. The team was about as strong as he could field, obviously Cole still unavailable. Agger came back into the left back position, Jovanovic came back into the left midfield position after being rested and Gerrard, Skrtel, Johnson and Torres returned to the team.

                                                     THE MATCH

Liverpool started the match brightly and had one or two good efforts on goal Torres being the main threat and looks like he is getting sharper with every game. His best came from cutting in from the left before hitting a good shot that was well saved from former Liverpool goalkeeper Carson. But as the game wore on West Brom became more confident and started to put a bit of pressure on Liverpool winning some corner kicks and trying to launch some long throws into the box when given the opportunity. Some of Skrtel's defending at these set pieces bordered on swapping shirts, how he got away with so much holding and shirt pulling still amazes me, no doubt Hodgson will be making sure that type of defending doesn't happen again. So after the good start made by Liverpool they had to be content going in with no score at half time.
                                        Torres scores against West Brom

The second half was much the same as the first half with Liverpool having more of the play but West Brom looking like they could nick one at the other end too. As time was going on you were starting to wonder if Liverpool were going to get the breakthrough. Liverpool withdrew Jovanovic for Maxi to try and make an attacking difference and he did look lively when he came on. But the game turned on the sixty fifth minute and came after a break and chance for the Baggies which ended up safely in the hands of Reina who initiated a smart break up the Liverpool left which culminated with Kuyt playing a delicate chip to Torres at the edge of the West Brom box which he hit on the volley into the ground sending it into the right hand corner of Carson's goal giving him no chance. You could just feel the relief from the players and crowd as this goal went in. Torres almost scored a second minutes later when Gerrard played a brilliant cross into the box which Torres volleyed but Carson made a really good save spreading himself and blocking it.
                                       Torres and Kuyt celebrate

Torres should have won a penalty when he shot at goal only to see his shot blocked by an arm of Jara. Then Torres was on the end of a reckless challenge from Morrison which brought him a straight red card. But in seeing out the final few minutes with an extra man Liverpool were far from comfortable. West Brom pushed Liverpool back and were unlucky when a shot hit the side netting, but relief at the final whistle, it wasn't pretty but the result was very important.

                                           SUMMARY

Not a great game and certainly not a great performance by Liverpool. Against better teams they probably would have lost this match, but then last season they would probably never had made the breakthrough. So great relief all round. Reina had very little to do. Johnson had some good runs forward. Agger was steady, same with Carragher. Skrtel was better than Monday night but he cant keep getting away with holding in the box the way he did here. The game by passed Lucas once again. Poulsen some good passes I think he will be a good player for Liverpool. Jovanovic worked hard and had some good runs before being subbed. Usual workrate from Kuyt but set up the goal and set up a few attacks. Gerrard was quiet but did create a few good opportunities and had one or two efforts on goal. Torres was superb a  real handfull getting back to his best and a superb goal. The most important thing was the result and a great three points for Liverpool.

Man of the Match - Torres Superb, really looked sharp and the difference between the teams, caused problems all day long and the goal will really boost his confidence.

YNWA

9 comments:

  1. Great post. I disagree w/ a few of your opinions, but that's bound to happen! Lol We can't agree on 100% of everything all the time.

    Hmm, a penny for my thoughts?

    I was relatively unimpressed with Poulsen. Those saying he will replace Lucas, I am surprised with. Lucas was working hard and providing passes we needed. A few times he seemed to have lost his head, but Poulsen was much much worse, IMO. I would still have to pick Lucas over Poulsen anyday.

    Jovanovich was shockingly poor. Not sure what got into him, but he was the worse I've seen him thus far. Hope he figures all that out...

    Soo happy to see Nando on the score sheet! His goal was excellent and he was much sharper than he has been. Haven't seen too much complaining from him either which makes me happy. I am positive as long as he stays fit he will continue on scoring many many goals this season.

    Overall, the game was asi, asi (so, so). We need to be putting up more than one goal a game. I feel as though the team needs to mash together more as well. New players mean they are still learning each other.

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  2. thanks for your for reading and posting your comments very interesting, many thanks.

    YNWA

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  3. We also had a genuine penalty shout for blatant hand-ball off a shot by Torres, after nice forward play by Maxi and Gerrard.

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  4. As you rightly pointed out. Sorry, I didn't notice that you had mentioned it at first. The sending off was a bit of poetic justice for the Cole sending off. Just like with J. Cole, I don't think the WBA lad intended any harm.

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  5. I would also like to disagree with your description of Lucas's play, especially in the second half. The game certainly did not pass him by, he was active and involved, and had quite a few very nice forward passes, as well.

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  6. http://theliverword.blogspot.com/2 September 2010 at 00:41

    Hi GrkStav, really appreciate your comments.

    YNWA

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