Reds4ever's Blog

Liverpool 2-1 Wigan 16 dec 2009

reds4ever — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:58:04 +0000

David Ngog and Fernando Torres gave Liverpool a much-needed win against Wigan at Anfield on Wednesday night. Rafa Benitez opted to start Ngog alongside Dirk Kuyt up front, with Torres on the bench, and also moved Steven Gerrard back into midfield with Lucas making way. There was still no full league debut for Alberto Aquilani. The Reds started bright and took the lead through Ngog’s glancing header from a powerful cross Fabio Aurelio cross from the right. Ngog got the slightest of touches to claim his sixth goal of the season. The home side almost doubled their lead after good work by Benayoun down the right saw Ngog and Kuyt combine only for Chris Kirkland to make a smart save at his near post to deny Kuyt. Wigan should have scored through both Scharner and Jason Scotland either side of half-time, and Daniel Agger almost doubled the lead for Liverpool from a Gerrard corner. Torres replaced Ngog on 64 minutes and on his 100th appearance for the club doubled the advantage after his initial shot blocked after rounding Kirkland. Charles NZogbia’s strike in injury time denied Pepe Reina a cleansheet but Liverpool held on for a much needed win.

The Reds travel to Portsmouth on Saturday next as the Christmas fixtures come thick and fast.

Rafa believes in Reds

reds4ever — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:51:06 +0000

Rafa Benitez has confidence his Liverpool team can turn around their miserable season – starting with Wigan Athletic on Wednesday night.

“I have to have confidence in my team and I am sure we can do it because I know we are better than the team you are seeing on the pitch,” said the Spaniard.

“People criticise the team and the squad but the majority of players were here last year.

“We have scored 22 goals at home (in eight matches this season) but we are conceding goals, too.

“We have to improve in attack if we can but we have to improve in defence.

“We had three clean sheets in a row and I was really pleased and then we conceded against Fiorentina and then Arsenal.

“But the team is much stronger now, we are stronger at set-pieces and we are defending set-pieces better.”

Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal 13 dec 2009

reds4ever — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:44:24 +0000

Liverpool suffered another defeat as Andrei Arshavin’s goal gave Arsenal a 2-1 win at Anfield. The Reds’ sixth League defeat of the season didn’t look likely at half time, with Rafa Benitez’s side in control of the game and 1-0 up through Dirk Kuyt’s close range goal. But the second half saw Arsenal come back, the same as Fiorentina did in midweek, and Glen Johnson’s own goal just 5 minutes into the second half changed the game. Johnson turned Samir Nasri’s cross into his own net and Liverpool’s fragile confidence was clearly shaken. Just eight minutes later Arshavin, who scored 4 times in this fixture back in April, scored a world class goal from the edge of the box. The Russian’s first touch, turn and shot in off the underside of the bar left Pepe Reina no chance. The first half had seen Liverpool denied a clear penalty when Steven Gerrard was tripped by William Gallas and the home side went close when Torres should have scored after great build-up play with Gerrard. But if Liverpool were dominant in the first half, they certainly weren’t in the second period, failing to muster any real chance on goal, despite the introduction of Alberto Aquilani on 65 minutes. Despite most other results going their way this weekend Liverpool remain seventh, level on points with Birmingham City.

Rafa: I have players backiung up

reds4ever — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:37:48 +0000

Rafa Benitez claims his big guns are still fully behind him as he bids to get Liverpool’s season back on track against Arsenal on Sunday.

“The players are behind me,” the Spaniard said.

“You can see that in some of the big players – Torres, Gerrard and Reina. They are positive and know they have to work hard for the club and the fans.

“The players know we are not performing at the level we need. Sometimes they have doubts about us, but that’s part of the game.

“They are focused, they are working hard and trying to win games. When you lose one or two it becomes more difficult.”

“When you are not winning lots of games in a row confidence can be very low,” Benitez added.

“We made mistakes in the Champions League but we can improve. Can we improve in attack by bringing back Torres? Yes.

“Can we improve in attack with Gerrard fitter? I think so. It will be easier for me, doing more or less the same things with different kinds of players.

“We will be much better in attack – 100 per cent.

“As a manager you have good and bad moments but we are in a situation where we have to improve.

“Everybody was expecting Liverpool to be top of the table at this time and to have qualified for the Champions League. We have to be positive.

“In the Premier League we have to try to reduce the gap and see what happens.”

Liverpool 1-2 Fiorentina 9 dec 2009

reds4ever — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:32:47 +0000

Liverpool ended their miserable Champions League campaign with a 2-1 defeat at home to Fiorentina. Midfielder Alberto Aquilani made his first start for the club, 4 months after his £18million move from Roma and 7 weeks after making his first appearance as a sub. The Italian international had a quiet game, with brief glimpses of being able to provide a link between midfield and attack. Rafa Benitez opted to rest several first team players, with Diego Cavalieri, Stephen Darby and Andrea Dossena all earning rare starts. Dirk Kuyt started up front.

The result means Fiorentina finish the group top, with Lyon second. Liverpool are now fated for the Europa League.

Blackburn 0-0 Liverpool 5 dec 2009

reds4ever — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:25:37 +0000

A third consecutive cleansheet for the Reds but a lack of finishing in the absence of Fernando Torres saw them drop another two points at Blackburn on Saturday afternoon. Substitute David Ngog had two good chances after coming on but failed to put them away, hitting the bar from close range after Glen Johnson’s cross. Right at the death, Pepe Reina heroically rushed out from his goal to deny Nikola Kalinic what would have been a Blackburn winner. The Spanish stopper continues to prove himself as the best keeper in the league. The first half was forgettable, to say the least, with neither side creating any chances. There was, again, no appearance for midfielder Alberto Aquilani. Winger Nabil El Zhar made his first appearance of the season though.

Steven Gerrard made his 500th appearance for the club

Everton 0-2 Liverpool 29 nov 2009

reds4ever — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:01:55 +0000

Liverpool won the 212th Merseyside derby courtesy of a deflected Javier Mascherano shot and a Dirk Kuyt’s close range effort. The Reds had Pepe Reina to thank after a superb double save denied the hosts with the score at 1-0. Mascherano’s long strike after just 12 minutes took a huge deflection off defender Joseph Yobo and into the opposite corner. Yobo was involved in the Reds’ second too, failing to clear the ball it fell for substitute Albert Riera whose shot was parried by Tim Howard for Kuyt to tap home from close range for his 4th goal of the season. The match started with a high tempo and saw a battling performance give Liverpool a much needed victory to move them up to fifth in the League. Midfield duo Lucas Leiva and Mascherano put in hard working performances in particular.

Debrecen 0-1 Liverpool 24 nov 2009

reds4ever — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:56:20 +0000

Liverpool are out of this season’s Champions League, despite a 1-0 victory over Debrecen in Hungary. Fiorentina’s 1-0 victory over Lyon in Italy ensured that whatever the result in Budapest, Liverpool were eliminated from the European Cup. The Reds will now enter the Europa League (formally UEFA Cup) which they last won in 2001 under Gerard Houllier.

David Ngog got the only goal of the game just minutes into the match when he turned in a goalbound header from Jamie Carragher. But the Reds, despite dominating possession and winning 12 corners, never really looked like adding to their early lead. In a bizarre move, Benitez left it until the 91st minute to bring on £18million summer signing Alberto Aquilani.

Liverpool 2-2 Man City 21 nov 2009

reds4ever — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:46:41 +0000

Liverpool suffered their first blow as Agger suffered a nasty head injury and had to be replaced by Kyrgiakos. Ten minutes later it was Babel who was forced off after a collision between him, Gerrard and City defender Zabaleta. Benayoun came on, having only trained once in the last 2 weeks. A dull first half ended goalless with Liverpool failing to build up any momentum following the injuries. Liverpool’s best effort arrived early on with Skrtel having a header well-saved by Shay Given. The second half started better and Ngog won a free-kick which was whipped in by Gerrard and Skrtel got ahead of Adebayor to poke in with his toe from 6 yards to score his first goal for the club. 1-0. City though hit back and enjoyed long spells of possession, they got their equaliser in the fashion most sides have against Liverpool this season – from a corner. Adebayor was in acres of space and headed down and into the corner. The visitors then took the lead as Wright-Phillips turned and played in Stephen Ireland, who was offside, to slot past Reina. 1-2. Within 70 seconds though Liverpool had equalised, Benayoun on the spot to turn in Ngog’s deflected cross. Liverpool made it 2-2. From there on the match ended in a draw and another 2 points lost be liverpool.

Liverpool 2-2 Birmingham 9 nov 2009

reds4ever — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:37:18 +0000

Liverpool’s disappointing campaign continued with a 2-2 draw against Birmingham at Anfield on Monday night, although it wasn’t for lack of trying. Liverpool dominated the possession with Ngog opening the scoring after 13 minutes with a well taken volley in front of the Kop. But the Blues equalised against the run of play on 26 minutes, Christian Benitez heading in on a set piece. Then Cameron Jerome hit a shot out of nowhere which flew over Reina’s head for a goal of the season contender. It was all of 30 yard’s out and nothing anybody could do about it. The second half saw Birmingham defend in mass numbers, blocking shots and getting bodies behind the ball. With Gerrard having replacing the injured Riera just before half-time, it always looked likely the home side would equalise and it finally arrived when the impressive Ngog won a penalty. Gerrard converted the penalty comfortably. Johnson impressed down the right, a few trademark surging runs where accompanied by one sublime bit of skill in the second half with a back heel which almost led to a goal. Aquilani made his home and Premier League debut in the last 6 minutes but despite 4 minutes of stoppage time Benitez’s side couldn’t find a winner.