The Kopite View

Anzhi 1-0 Liverpool Match Report

Liverpool went into their Europa League tie away to Anzhi on top of their group, but a changed team to the one that defeated Anzhi at Anfield would be expected with Liverpool taking the trip to London to play Chelsea on Sunday. Many regular first teamers like Steven Gerrard, Suarez, Agger, Skrtel, Allen, Sterling and Reina did not travel to Moscow with the main priority being the Chelsea match on Sunday.

The Team

With Brendan Rodgers not taking many regulars on the trip to Moscow, Rodgers mixed his side with a mixture of youth and experience, Jamie Carragher, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and birthday boy Joe Cole gave the team experience alongside Flanagan, Coates, Wisdom, Shelvey, Morgan and Coady who was making his first team debut. Brad Jones once again kept goal in his recent run in the team.

The Match

The match started at a pedestrian pace with both teams trying to get a feel for the ball. Anzhi created the first chance of the match when Rasim Tagirbekov’s left-footer across goal from the edge of the box failed to trouble Brad Jones, however, with five minutes played.

Liverpool looked to pass the ball around at the back under little pressure from the hosts, but without creating much although Adam Morgan looked lively up front with his movement.

But the hosts were afforded a real let off on 23 minutes when Morgan slipped Jordan Henderson through on goal. He elected to try and pull the ball back to allow the young striker a tap in, but Joao Carlos was able to intercept and a promising opening went begging.

Zhirkov stole the ball off Wisdom and broke into a dangerous position before finding Eto’o 12 yards out who was thwarted by a great save from Brad Jones.

The effort seemed to galvanise the home side and they put Liverpool on the back foot for the first time in the match.

But with the match looking to be heading for a stalemate at half-time, Traore’s clever flick-and-spin beyond the attentions of Coates sent him bearing down on goal. With Jones rushing out to meet him, the striker lofted the ball over the advancing No.1 to alter Rodgers’ half-time teamtalk.

Liverpool looked to respond quickly and Morgan struck into the side-netting after a neat pass from Cole released him into space.

But at the other end Jones was required to pluck Eto’o’s curler out of the air while Traore was millimetres away from grabbing a second with a 20-yard blast.

With an hour played and Liverpool chasing the game, Rodgers sent on Suso and Pacheco for Morgan and Coady to try and improve Liverpool’s attack.

Liverpool began to take control of possession, though Jones was needed to thwart Traore’s close-range header as the game edged towards a conclusion.

Suso’s introduction had provided the Reds with a different attacking impetus, and the 18-year-old was involved in their best opportunity of the evening so far on 77 minutes. His shimmy on the edge of the box created space for a shot, which was spilled by Vladimir Gabulov – but the Anzhi custodian sprung to his feet swiftly to repel Cole’s follow up.

It was Cole’s last involvement in the match as he was replaced by Assaidi in another attacking substitution.

With the visitors pushing forward in search of an equaliser, a counter-attack from Guus Hiddink’s men resulted in Traore racing through on goal, only to steer wide.

The Reds continued to toil throughout the final stages in the hope of clinching a point, but it wasn’t to be as Anzhi held out.

Summary

A very young Liverpool side faced a very expensive Anzhi side. Great to see so many youngsters starting and Coady making his first team debut. Morgan and Coady did really well along with many others. Joe Cole does not look good enough to play for us anymore, and Downing and Henderson just don’t look confident. Andre Wisdom played well again apart from getting caught in possession in the first half. Liverpool passed the ball sideways and backwards far too often and never created enough and never really looked like scoring all night, but neither did Anzhi until a slip by Coates allowed Troare to score the winner right on half-time. Brad Jones made some really good saves, but got caught in no man’s land with the goal. Disappointing to lose, but more invaluable experience for so many youngsters.

Liverpool 1-1 Newcastle Match Report

Liverpool welcomed Newcastle to Anfield to mark club captain Steven Gerrard’s 600^th appearance for Liverpool. But after exiting the Capital One Cup in midweek, Liverpool were desperate for a league victory, having won only two this season. Newcastle have a terrible record at Anfield having last recorded a win 18 years ago, but Newcastle would go into the match full of confidence having won last weekend against West Brom.

The Team

Brendan Rodgers fielded the same team that drew last Sunday against Everton, with Brad Jones still in goal while Reina recovers from injury. Enrique continued at left-back with Johnson still injured. Youngsters Wisdom, Suso and Sterling all continued their run in the side alongside the man of the moment Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez. Skrtel and Agger partnered in the middle of defence, with Joe Allen and Sahin in the middle of midfield.

The Match

The game was preceded by a presentation by Gary McAllister to Steven Gerrard on the day of his 600th appearance for Liverpool – a figure reached by only nine men before him.

It is a sign of our No.8’s standing in English football that even the Newcastle supporters stood to applaud, while Jamie Carragher thinks his friend can now rightly claim to be the greatest player in Liverpool’s 120-year history.

Liverpool attacked from the off and Sterling drew a foul in an attacking position. Gerrard forced Krul into a desperate punch clear from the resulting free-kick.

Sterling then linked up with Sahin before crossing low across the 6 yard box, but the Newcastle defence managed to clear.

The assault continued. Suarez curled agonisingly wide from a free-kick and then worked a yard in the box before being denied by the legs of Krul.

Newcastle launched a few long-range efforts of their own, but Demba Ba was enjoying none of the service that had helped him score six in six prior to this encounter.

Suarez beating Steven Taylor to a header in the Newcastle box just about summed things up, but his effort went wide and the scoresheet remained blank.

Suso then saw a deflected shot just miss the target as Liverpool dominated proceedings, but on 43 minutes Cabaye sent the travelling supporters wild with an angled volley into the top corner right in front of the Kop.

Liverpool started the second half with a succession of corners but could not find the leveller. Suarez was causing the Newcastle defence all sorts of problems and made Krul stretch to save a snapshot from 18 yards as the Kop grew impatient.

The leveller came on 67 minutes, and was arguably worth the wait. It was Jose Enrique who rainbowed a long ball over the top and into the run of Suarez. The Uruguayan was majestic in doing the rest, getting ahead of his marker, controlling on his chest, rounding the goalkeeper and finishing into an empty net.

Moments later Shelvey missed a great chance to give Liverpool the lead after some excellent play by Suarez to set him up.

Liverpool were on top now and desperate to find a winner. Another superb chance was then wasted as Suarez played Sterling clean through. The 17-year-old hesitated a fraction too long, allowing Taylor to slide in and block the shot.

Newcastle’s chances of holding on were hindered on 84 minutes when skipper Coloccini received a straight red card for a landing his studs on the back of Suarez’s leg.

Liverpool could not capitalise, however, with Shelvey heading straight at the ‘keeper and then forcing Krul to tip onto the crossbar in the game’s final opportunities.

Summary

Brendan Rodgers is starting to play a consistent team in recent league games and this can only be beneficial. A tremendous milestone reached by Steven Gerrard which was applauded by even Newcastle supporters. Sterling had another good game, Luis Suarez was unplayable and topped off his performance with a wonder goal. But once again failure to win the match after playing well in most of the match is a regular problem. Liverpool are not scoring when on top and prone to losing goals with a sucker punch like what happened today. Credit the way the team came back into it in the second half and should have won but they need to start turning draws into wins.

Brendan’s Threadbare Squad

Brenda Rodgers has stated that his squad is too thin to compete in so many competitions this season and his statement was highlighted by his old team disposing of Liverpool in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night.

Rodgers felt he had to rest some of his regular players for the cup tie as most of them had played against Russian side Anzhi and in Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Everton. But it was sad to see Rodgers basically give up on the cup that Liverpool won last season by making so many changes to his team that played against Everton on Sunday.

Rodgers should have been well aware that Swansea would be right up for the match after him leaving in the summer and also taking midfielder Joe Allen with him. In fairness to Rodgers he has tried to give his fringe players a chance in the cup competitions this season, just like he did on Wednesday.

He has put great trust in his players this season but I felt he showed a bit of naivety by making too many changes against Swansea and ultimately paid for it. Swansea had more regular first team players playing and they were far more hungrier on the night than the Liverpool team Rodgers’ assembled.

Jordan Henderson was played out of position at right-back, although he did a decent job for the team. It was a big ask for Assaidi and young Yesil to start in a cup tie like that, with little experience in the English game, and they both struggled. Joe Cole was a massive disappointment and Liverpool have paid the former Chelsea player a lot of money for very little in return, and it will be interesting to see how many more chances he gets in a Liverpool shirt.

Joe Cole is an experienced player who should now be thriving on this opportunity at Liverpool as the squad has little in the way of experience with so many younger members. But Cole has featured very little this season and on the rare occasions he has featured for the first team he has not impressed.

Liverpool have a wealth of talented youngsters coming through at the club with the likes of Sterling, Suso and Wisdom who have become regulars in recent weeks in the first team, but it is difficult for players so young to step up to this level and perform at this high standard every week. But this is what they are being asked to do at the moment with the lack of experience in the squad.

During the summer Liverpool let a lot of experienced players leave which has heaped pressure on Brendan Rodgers and especially the youngsters who have stepped up to the first team squad. Experienced players like Charlie Adam, Craig Bellamy, Aquilani, Maxi and Dirk Kuyt have all moved on to pastures new and Jay Spearing and Andy Carroll are out on loan this season.

Yes Liverpool has brought in a few players in this summer but most of them are very young and some don’t have any experience in the English game. Borini, Allen, Yesil, Assaidi and Sahin have arrived but they don’t share the experience that Adam, Bellamy, Maxi or Kuyt have.

We don’t know if this was Rodgers own doing or the owners telling Rodgers that he must sell and reduce the wage bill before he brings new players in, but whatever the reason there has been players leaving that could have helped this season. Bellamy and Kuyt could both play up front and Andy Carroll’s move was a joke considering Liverpool are only left with Suarez as a their only recognised striker after Borini’s unfortunate long term injury. Maxi could have also played an important role with his knack of scoring goals from midfield, which is sadly lacking in the midfielders Liverpool possess.

It will be a tough season for Liverpool and Rodgers having to rely on a “threadbare” squad but the good thing is it will give the youngsters great experience. But the results must be positive along the way at such a big club like Liverpool.

Rodgers keeps reminding everyone of his thin squad which makes me think that the transfer dealings in the summer has not been his own doing and he has went in to the job with his hands tied by his owners, which has made his difficult job a lot more difficult.

The owners must back Rodgers and give him the time he needs and back him in the January transfer window as his squad is in much need of at least one more striker. Time will tell, but Rodgers has a really tough task to put Liverpool back where they belong.

Liverpool 1-3 Swansea Match Report

Liverpool 1-3 Swansea Commentary

Liverpool continued their defence of the League (Capital One) Cup at home to Swansea who were narrowly defeated by Premiership Champions Manchester City at the weekend. Liverpool went into the game on a 4 match unbeaten league run including a 2-2 draw at local rivals Everton last Sunday. Added spice to the fixture was the fact that Liverpool were playing Brendan Rodgers’ former club for the first time since leaving them in the summer.

The Team

Brendan Rodgers made wholesale changes to his team for the visit of Swansea, Rodgers made 10 changes to the team that started at Goodison with only Brad Jones keeping his place in the team. Obviously Rodgers was using his squad with the busy fixture list Liverpool have, and Rodgers feels the Capital One Cup gives some of his fringe players a chance to impress. Jordan Henderson, Jamie Carragher, Coates and Jack Robinson made up the defence in front of Brad Jones, with Assaidi and Downing the wide midfield men alongside Joe Allen, Shelvey and Joe Cole in the middle, with young Yesil playing up front. Brendan Rodgers selected a strong list of substitutes with Gerrard, Suarez, Skrtel, Wisdom, Sterling and Suso on the bench.

Gerrard shoots against Swansea picture courtesy Daily Mail

The Match

It took until the 9^th minute to witness the first chance of the eagerly anticipated cup tie when Yesil’s persistence almost put him through on goal but Ashley Williams managed to thwart the youngster.

Williams sent a raking ball through to Dyer but his touch let him down as Jones gathered. The visitors started the match confidently and were having the lion’s share of possession. Ki-Sung Yeung then had the Australian goalkeeper scrambling across his goal line with a 20-yard punt.

Then, with 25 minutes on the clock, only the sort of last-ditch block tackle that Jamie Carragher has made his trademark over the years prevented Hernandez from a clean shot at goal after a crisp one-two between the Swansea winger and Michu had dissected the Reds’ defence.

Stewart Downing then had a low shot from distance turned round the post by goalkeeper Tremmel, but Jonathan De Guzman spurned a glorious chance to open the scoring for the Swans when his attempted lob over the onrushing Jones only succeeded in finding the roof of the net at the end of a lightening counter.

Swansea capitalised on their good spell of possession in the 34^th minute when Chico rose highest to head home from a corner-kick and send the large travelling support wild with delight.

Liverpool could have restored instant parity had Cole been able to get any purchase on a header from Assaidi’s centre when unmarked, but his attempt lacked power and bounced into the grateful gloves of Tremmel.

Yesil and Downing had a couple of efforts before the break but the away side deservedly went in at half-time with a 1-0 lead.

Brendan Rodgers made a double substitution at the break with Gerrard and Suarez replacing Cole and Yesil.

Liverpool started the second half brightly and Shelvey shot over after creating space for himself. The England man then teed up Suarez with a sumptuous outside-of-the-boot cross that the Uruguayan nodded off target five minutes after the re-start.

Liverpool were on top now in their quest to find parity and they went very close in the 64^th minute when Gerrard rattled the base of the post from long range which fell kindly to Downing 6 yards out but he missed horribly with his right foot.

But the Reds were perhaps fortunate to survive an incredible passage of play that followed next as a goalmouth scramble saw Swansea pepper the Kop end goal repeatedly. Only the reflexes of Jones and the bravery of Carragher denied them a second of the night.

Jones was then required to tip a stinging strike from Michu over the bar and Williams powered a header inches wide from the resulting corner.

It was then Liverpool’s turn to frantically try and turn the ball home in a crowded box as Shelvey, Coates, Carragher and Suarez all tried to net.

They were unable to, however, and within seconds Swansea doubled their advantage as they broke forward, resulting in Dyer tapping in Hernandez’s cross.

Liverpool now had a mountain to climb to stay in the Cup they won last February, and they were given a lifeline with 13 minutes to go when Suarez headed in a Gerrard free-kick.

But despite heavy late pressure, the Reds were unable to conjure up a dramatic equaliser as the Swans clinched victory with De Guzman’s last-gasp tap in as they broke away in the last minute.

Suarez Heads Liverpool’s Goal picture courtesy of Daily Mail

Summary

Rodgers made a lot of changes and paid the price against his old side. Respectfully he gave many players a chance to impress, but not many did as they were second best to a good Swansea side who pressured Liverpool and passed the ball around confidently and also counter attacked dangerously. Brad Jones had a terrific game making some vital saves, but Liverpool really struggled in the first half with Carragher looking past his best and Joe Cole looking like a total waste of space and money. Assaidi struggled to get into the game along with Yesil not receiving much service. Stewart Downing was poor again and missed a total sitter after Gerrard hit the post. Liverpool played better once Suarez and Gerrard came on for the second half. Coates had a good game in defence with some timely tackles. But Swansea deserved the win and Brendan Rodgers will be disappointed to lose to his old team.

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