In all honesty, I don't know how I'm able to type out my thoughts on today's events at Upton Park, seen as I don't seem to have many fingernails left. Arguably the worst of the performances as a whole throughout the now 9 consecutive wins we have. After such a stunning performance blazing Spurs last weekend, today was an extremely tough test. It was announced that Agger had picked up a knock in training just hours before the game, and was replaced by Mamadou Sakho, someone that I highly rate and had played well in this one. Apart from that, there were no other changes to the Starting XI.
It was a rather flat start to the game, which is completely contradictory to how the game panned out later on. Liverpool old boys Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll were the ones causing their former side trouble, Raheem Sterling and Martin Skrtel were there to reduce that however. A Luis Suarez free kick clipped the top of the net after Sturridge was fouled in the third minute. It was quite clear West Ham's Mohamed Diame was causing Flanagan problems throughout the first half, but again Skrtel had to keep Carroll quiet as the ball went into the box. The best chance of the first 20 minutes came when Suarez tried to chip goalkeeper Adrian but only managed to hit the crossbar. For me, Daniel Sturridge had quite a poor game. He looked a little sluggish at times and consistently failed to find the net. I could say the same for Suarez towards the end of the game too, he looked like he's just come back from the World Cup. However we should put it down to time-wasting as the clocked ticked down to the final whistle.
Brendan Rodgers is such a great manager. So wise. So clever. Tactically gifted to say the least. He knew that the ball wasn't finding its way into the wide areas for Liverpool in the first half, so he made a change at half time and brought Lucas, who was recently returned from injury, on to replace fellow Brazilian Philippe Coutinho. He's one of the only managers that I tend to see making notes when on the touchline in the modern game, thoroughly analysing the game and his side's strengths and weaknesses. He knows all of his opponents so well and isn't given enough praise because he isn't a stand-out, spotlight and 'loud-mouthed' figure like his former employer Jose Mourinho. Trying to be as non-biased as possible, I would be quite irritated if Rodgers didn't get Manager of the Season come the end of May. The change that he made today, perhaps alongside the departure of the lively Scouser in Kevin Nolan in replacement of Antonio Nocerino during the second half, swung the game Liverpool's way.
We had so much more freedom to express ourselves after the break and made a lot more chances and to be fair could have scored three or four in this game. Despite an early Hammers corner, the Reds went on to create their opponents some real problems. Luis Suarez linked up with Lucas and Sterling in two separate chances, only to be denied by Adrian on both occasions. Carroll also hit the crossbar moments later after making superb contact on Diame's cross. The West Ham substitution mentioned above took place just two minutes before the decision that changed the outcome of the match. Now that I have named the event as a 'decision', if it is Liverpool involved, it has to be a penalty. I and all other Reds fans wouldn't have classed this decision as 'controversial' but everyone else did. Flanagan had been getting in behind the Iron's full backs throughout the second half, and in this case went down under the challenge of Adrian. The argument comes in the form of whether West Ham's Spanish keeper got the ball before Flanagan, but replays show that he didn't. Adrian did get a minor touch of the ball but the Liverpool full back got there first and was brought down under the challenge.
Five games to go. Man City go to Anfield next Sunday in what will probably be the most pivotal game of the season. Can we do it? Lets hope so! See you for the preview of that encounter next time! WE ARE LIVERPOOL!
No comments:
Post a Comment