The Kopite View

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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