The Kopite View

                                             Liverpool 1-1 Hearts Match Report

After last week’s 1-0 win over Hearts at Tynecastle, Liverpool was hoping to finish off a stubborn Hearts side that made things very difficult in Edinburgh.

Many experts would expect Liverpool to win convincingly at Anfield against the Scottish side, but Brendan Rodgers stressed that he would not be taking Hearts lightly.

Liverpool was buoyed by their performance against Manchester City at the weekend and would be hoping to build on that showing against Hearts to increase their confidence.

                                             The Team

Brendan Rodgers named a much stronger team than he did last week, with Suarez and Gerrard included in the line-up.

Skrtel partnered Carragher at the heart of the defence with Kelly at right-back and a new position for Downing at left-back.

Jordan Henderson came back into the side after falling out of favour in recent league games, and great to see youngster Adam Morgan getting a chance up front.

                                           The Match

 A tremendous atmosphere at Anfield , for the visit of Hearts, who brought a brilliantly,  vocal travelling support down from Edinburgh.

Stewart Downing excelled in the early stages in his new role, racing down the left and floating crosses into the middle. One such cross found the 18 year old, Adam Morgan at the back post, but the youngster failed to control.

In the 12^th minute, Downing provided another cross which Morgan headed back across the face of goal to Suarez, who nodded over the advancing keeper, only to see his effort cleared off the line.

Callum Paterson looked a threat for the visitors and fired a shot over the bar early on.

At the other end Suarez nutmegged a Hearts defender before having his cross deflected behind.

Liverpool was dominating the play in the first half and quick to win the ball back as they showed signs of Brendan Rodgers philosophy.

Morgan produced a stinging drive in the 25^th minute which MacDonald almost spilled into the path of Gerrard.

Moments later Gerrard burst into the box, driving past two defenders only to see his dinked effort blocked by MacDonald.

Then Suarez cut the ball back from the goal-line for Morgan to tap into the net, but the youngster’s celebration s was short lived as the linesman’s flag was raised as he adjudged Suarez had taken the ball out of play before he crossed.

After the interval Liverpool stepped up the pace with Joe Allen the main instigator in proceedings.

With Hearts remaining resolute against Liverpool’s pressure, Brendan Rodgers decided to bring on Raheem Sterling for Adam Morgan for the last 30 minutes. Morgan was rewarded with a standing ovation from the Kop.

The pressure was turned up a notch as Sterling ran at the Hearts defence. Then Henderson played through Suarez, but after rounding the Hearts keeper, he had his effort blocked behind to safety.

A minute later Suarez smashed an effort past MacDonald’s post as the pressure mounted.

Chance after chance was coming and going at the Hearts end, but Liverpool could not penetrate the Hearts defence.

Then with 6 minutes remaining Liverpool was stunned when Templeton struck a speculative effort from 25 yards straight at Reina, the Liverpool keeper spilled the ball into his net to send the visiting support wild and levelling the tie.

The game looked certain for extra-time when Suarez burst through the Hearts defence from midfield before firing low past MacDonald and breaking Scottish Hearts.

It was a tough end for Hearts, but massive relief for Liverpool.

                                            The Summary

Impressive to see Rodgers field such a strong team against Hearts and also give Adam Morgan his first start. Liverpool moved the ball well and played some nice stuff, but I never felt we created enough chances for all the possession we had. Suarez was very wasteful, but then popped up with an amazing goal to save Liverpool.  Morgan played well and was unlucky to have his effort chalked off. Downing played very well in an unfamiliar role at left-back, and Joe Allen was very impressive once again in the middle. I thought Liverpool would have won comfortably, but great credit to Hearts they played brilliantly and defended superbly, probably deserved to get to extra-time for their efforts. Another worrying defensive mistake contributing to a goal, this time Reina, and he is starting to make quite a few mistakes that he never used to. Good to get past Hearts although it was hard work.

                                                    Bad Day At The Office ?

Brendan Rodgers explained Saturday’s defeat to West Brom as a “bad day at the office”. Hopefully for Liverpool, that it is all it is.

But Liverpool’s fixtures get a lot tougher, with matches coming up against Manchester City, Arsenal, Sunderland and Manchester United.

Brendan Rodgers has been promised time by Liverpool’s American owners to turn around Liverpool’s fortunes. But if results in these fixtures are poor, then I’m sure the pressure will mount.

Liverpool Football Club is a lot different to any club Brendan Rodgers has managed, with bigger expectations and more pressure for positive results.

To be fair, everything that could go wrong, did go wrong on Saturday. But worryingly was the disjointed performance of the team, especially in defence, where Skrtel and Agger looked like they have never played together before.

Gerrard looked unsure of his role in the team, and never influenced the game at all. Downing looked every bit as poor as he did last season.

New signing Borini didn’t even show flashes of quality that Liverpool have been looking for, and Suarez can’t be relied upon to be Liverpool’s main goal threat with his poor finishing that he keeps highlighting.

Rodgers has a lot of work to do, and he is very aware of the fact, he also realises that he will have to add to the squad before the end of the transfer window.

Saturday’s performance looked like many of the players are finding it foreign to adjust Rodgers’ new style of play. It will take time for the team to play a new style, but the fixture list means they will have to adjust quickly.

Positive news that Suarez and Skrtel have committed to the club by signing new contracts, there is high hopes that Agger will follow suit to end speculation of a move to Manchester City.

But there is also speculation over Andy Carroll and Charlie Adam’s future, so hopefully they will be cleared up soon.

Brendan Rodgers is a very good manager and I’m sure he will make Liverpool a better team. Time is the key at Liverpool and it is paramount that no panic button should be pressed if results in the near future are not positive.

West Brom 3-0 Liverpool

Much has changed during this summer at Anfield with another new manager starting a new season at Liverpool, this time the very highly rated, former Swansea manager, Brendan Rodgers.

Former Reds’ assistant manager to Kenny Dalglish, Steve Clarke moved to the Hawthorns during the summer, to welcome Liverpool for their first fixture of the season.

The Team

Summer signings Fabio Borini and Joe Allen made their competitive debuts in this first fixture as Captain Steven Gerrard skippered the side for the 250^th time in the Barclays Premier League.

Glen Johnson was switched to left-back as Jose Enrique was suffering from a knock. Martin Kelly deputised at right-back.

The Match

West Brom started the match brightly with Ridgewell going close with an effort inside the first two minutes.

Liverpool had to wait for 10 minutes to see their first chance, when Suarez skipped past Olsson and McAuley before firing a shot on target from 20 yards, which Ben Foster parried.

Moments later Suarez twisted and turned inside the box, before shooting low, which Foster saved at his near post.

The match was proving to be a good contest with both teams looking dangerous on attack.

Then on the half-hour mark Suarez missed a great chance when he headed over inside the 6 yard box after great work from Glen Johnson down the left, who provided a teasing cross.

Liverpool looked to be having the best of the chances when they fell behind just before half-time.

A West Brom corner-kick was headed clear by Martin Skrtel to the edge of the box where Gera controlled and let fly with an unstoppable volley into Reina’s top right hand corner.

Liverpool came out for the second half in positive fashion, with Suarez just missing the target from a free-kick just outside the box.

But the game turned for the worse for Liverpool in the 57^th minute when Agger was adjudged to have fouled Long as he raced through on goal. Phil Dowd added to Liverpool’s woes as he showed the Liverpool defender a red card.

West Brom’s number 9 took the penalty himself, but he was denied by a smart save from Reina as Liverpool was let off the hook.

Moments later the home side was awarded another spot-kick as Skrtel was caught in possession in his own penalty area by Long, the defender adjudged to have fouled Long as he tried to retrieve the ball.

Odemwingie took responsibility this time, and made no mistake from the spot.

Suarez should have reduced the deficit, but he missed his header from close range.

West Brom could have added to Liverpool’s misery as Morrison missed a glorious chance from close range.

But the home side did eventually add a third when Lakaku headed home a Long cross to end Liverpool’s faint hopes.

Summary

A terrible start for Brendan Rodgers in his first match in charge as Liverpool capitulated. Defensively, Skrtel and Agger were all over the place and Steven Gerrard never got into the game.

Lucas looked a bit off the pace which was not surprising, and Borini was poor.

But it is only the first game and credit to West Brom who played really well.

Suarez was his usual brilliant best, but unfortunately was also his usual wasteful self in front of goal.

New manager, but Liverpool still has the same old problem of converting chances, and Liverpool now have a tough run of fixtures coming up, with Manchester City next week, followed by Arsenal, Sunderland and then Manchester United.

Can Liverpool Break Into The Top Four ?

Well here we are on the eve of another footballing season, and for Liverpool Football Club hopes are always high.

A new era will begin at Liverpool under the leadership of new manager Brendan Rodgers at the Hawthorns this Saturday.

Rodgers will be under pressure to improve Liverpool’s league position after last season’s disappointment

Liverpool has enjoyed a successful pre-season tour in North America this summer and has added Fabio Borini, Joe Allen and Oussama Assaidi  to their squad, although Kuyt, Maxi, Aurelio,  Aquilani and Craig Bellamy have left the club.

Rodgers has highlighted his passing style in Liverpool’s pre-season matches and this will only improve as the squad get used to their new manager’s style of play.

Liverpool face a tough run of fixtures to start the season with, with matches against Champions Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United in the early weeks of the season.

The results in these games could shape Liverpool’s season.

The Premiership is getting tougher every year and breaking into the top four is getting extremely difficult.

Liverpool will have to improve dramatically to break into the top four, which is massively important for a club like Liverpool.

On any given day Liverpool can beat the best, but the consistency has to improve if Liverpool’s league position is to improve.

Brendan Rodgers has impressed most Liverpool supporters with his interviews and the importance that he emphasises of a passing game.

But football is a results business and Rodgers will understand that Liverpool’s results will need to be positive to compliment his style of play.

Promises have been made to Brendan Rodgers from Liverpool’s American owners, that he will be given time, so hopefully they will keep their promise, as Liverpool have a lot of catching up to do.

Rodgers has a good squad of players to work with and he will need that with the prospect of extra games in the Europa League this season.

Steven Gerrard is looking fit and raring to go and with Lucas back to fitness, this can only be very encouraging for Brendan Rodgers as they will be key players this season.

I don’t see any reason why Liverpool can’t finish in the top four, as the squad of players is good enough to take them there.

To start with, Pepe Reina is one of the best keepers around.

Liverpool’s defence is very solid with Glen Johnson, Skrtel, Agger and Enrique probably being regular starters, with good defenders in reserve, with the likes of Carragher, Coates, Wilson, Kelly, Robinson and Flanagan to call upon.

Liverpool has plenty of talent in midfield with Gerrard, Lucas, Downing, Joe Allen, Assaidi, Spearing, Adam, Henderson, Sterling, but to name a few that will fight for places in the Liverpool engine room.

Even up front Liverpool look strong with with Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll and Fabio Borini to bag the goals, and youngster Adam Morgan looking hungry for a place too.

With Brendan Rodgers having this talented squad at his disposal, I’m sure he will use them wisely and improve Liverpool with his tactics and organisation which he will install into his team.

This could be an exciting new era for Liverpool and I am enthusiastic about the new season.

So let the season begin.

A Quiet Incredible Man

On the 23^rd of January 1919 in a little known town called Hetton-le-Hole in County Durham, was born a baby who was to grow up to be the most successful manager in Liverpool Football Club’s history. His name of course was Bob Paisley.

Paisley started his long road to success at non-league Bishop Auckland before signing for Liverpool in May 1939, but due to war breaking out Paisley had to wait until 5^th of January 1946 to make his debut in Liverpool’s first post-war competitive match. Paisley became a regular in the Liverpool team at left-half and he helped Liverpool win their first league title in 24 years in his first full season at the club. Paisley had to wait until 1948 to net his first goal at Liverpool on the 1^st May at Anfield in a 2-1 win over Wolves.

Paisley scored the opening goal in a 2-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Everton in 1950 only to suffer heartache when he was dropped for the final against Arsenal in the club’s first ever trip to Wembley, which they lost. Paisley stated that this experience helped him deal with players during his time in management when he had to tell a player he was being left out of a big game.

Paisley became the club captain the following year. He retired from playing as a one club man in 1954 and continued to work for Liverpool as a self-taught physiotherapist. He later became coach of the reserves before becoming a member of Bill Shankly’s famous “Boot Room”. In 1971 he became Shankly’s assistant manager until Shankly’s shock resignation in 1974, where Paisley succeeded as manager.

Liverpool had become one of the top clubs in the country under Shankly’s leadership and had won numerous trophies. Paisley’s task seemed a formidable one to continue in Shankly’s footsteps. But the unassuming Geordie took to management like a duck to water, although his first season did end without a trophy.

Bob Paisley went on to manage Liverpool for 9 years winning 6 League Titles, 3 European Cups, 1 UEFA Cup, 3 League Cups, 5 Community Shields and 1 UEFA Super Cup. The only cup that eluded him was the FA Cup which he lost in a final in 1977. It really is a remarkable record for a man that never really wanted to become manager.

Paisley inherited a great team from Shankly but through time he had to shape the team into his. He lost great players like Kevin Keegan but he replaced him with an even better player in Kenny Dalglish. He could change the role of an established player like Ray Kennedy who was a superb striker for Arsenal, but Paisley could see that he would be a better player in midfield.

Paisley retired from management in 1983 after serving Liverpool Football Club in so many different roles in 44 years unbroken service. He did return to help Liverpool in 1985 as a consultant and advisor to new player-manager Kenny Dalglish for two years before being appointed a director of the club until 1992, having to retire due to ill health after being diagnosed with Alzhiemer’s Disease. Bob Paisley died on the 14^th of February 1996. But Liverpool Football Club honoured his fantastic service and achievements by erecting the “Paisley Gates”.

For me, Bob Paisley is the most under-rated manager in the history of British football, his record of success is astonishing. He is the only manager in history to win the European Cup 3 times. During his time as manager he always tried to shun the spotlight and maybe because he was so quiet may be the reason why he is not talked about as much as Ferguson or Mourinho.

It’s not just Paisley’s incredible management career that excites me, but his service to one club in so many roles that he played to help Liverpool Football Club achieve what they have. Paisley was the opposite of Shankly in terms of personality but similar in terms of success.

Although Paisley was quiet he did come away with some memorable quotes –

“Kevin was quicker off the mark, but Kenny runs the first five yards in his head.”

“Mind you, I’ve been here through the bad times too – one year we came second”

“It’s not about the long ball or the short ball, it’s about the right ball”

“Other people have earned more money than me in football but no-one has enjoyed it as much as me”

Although this great man is overlooked by many people on his achievements in football, he has legendary status in the hearts of Liverpool supporters. Paisley was manager of Liverpool when I started supporting them and I took the winning for granted at the time, but now after nearly 30 years since his departure from management I realise that success does not come easily in football, and I now I can fully appreciate how great a manager Paisley was.

Bob Paisley –  You’ll Never Walk Alone

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