A break when needed

Liverpool 2 (Gerrard 62, Benayoun 70)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
Anfield, Saturday December 26, 2009

Finally, Liverpool benefitted from a break when really needed. Right at the beginning, it may have seemed an insult to 'Pool when Wolves fielded a strong side, having given up the contest at the outset recently against another team, which we decline to mention. Whatever the case, initial enthusiasm from the players slowly gave way to the now predictable discomfort and lack of confidence characterizing all their displays of late. That is, until soon after the break. A foolish push in the back on Lucas from the Wolves left-back 5 minutes after getting his first yellow card earned him his second, and the mandatory red, though not without some confusing scenes involving the ref, his linesman,, the fourth official, Pepe Reina (courtesy of a sprint from his own area), the Liverpool bench and others. This proved the turning point, instilling in Steve Gerard, an attitude lost long since, enabling him to head in the opener with a forceful header. The subsequent improvement in display augurs well for the team, with the Villa game up soon, and may do good for the ,mental well-being of the club.
It was good that we won, but even greater that a clean sheet was kept. Hope this continues.

Apathy in the UK as resignation-infected Liverpool slump even lower

An article by Paul Doyle of The Guardian
Regeneration may be possible for Rafael Benítez's side, but a pretty vacant display at Portsmouth suggested a regime in decay.

As Portsmouth fans think about getting all Gloria Gaynor on us, it is hard not to wonder why Liverpool are so off-song. At their best under Rafael Benítez, they have been akin to the Sex Pistols – gusto and aggression overcoming a shortage of skill. Today they were plain rotten. Regeneration may yet be possible, but this pretty vacant display suggested a regime in decay.

Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has repeatedly told listeners to his TalkSPORT show in recent weeks that according to his sources at Anfield, the team's two local talismen, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, have lost all confidence in their manager. This performance gives credence to that claim.

Failing to create chances or pass with precision is one thing (well, two things), but neglecting to rebel in the face of defeat is altogether more alarming - particularly just a few days after the man in charge defiantly declared Liverpool would recover from their shoddy start to the season to finish in the top four.

There were clearly question marks about Benítez's team selection – we must take the manager's word that Alberto Aquilani was unfit with a calf problem, though omitting Yossi Benayoun to give Andrea Dossena his first league start of the season demands more ample explanation – but right from kick-off the most striking trait of Liverpool was their lack of spirit. 'High tempo' is a term Benítez uses in almost every public utterance, but here his charges were pedestrian.

Most extraordinary of all for a club where solidarity is especialy celebrated was the paucity of options provided to the man on the ball. Far too frequently Liverpool players seemed abandoned by disenchanted team-mates. In the 11th minute when Fernando Torres, as ever an admirable exception (though less admirable later on when his elbow strayed into the face of Tal Ben Haim), tracked back to nick the ball off Steve Finnan before bounding forward down the right, not one Liverpool player sought to offer him support. The Spaniard did well in the circumstances to win a corner.

Three minutes later Dossena, a picture of lonely desolation for most of the match, went on a similar gallop down the left, only to look up and discover that no team-mate had bothered to put himself in a position to receive a pass. You'll Never Walk Alone indeed.

Slothful going forward, Liverpool regularly dithered in defence. Even before Glen Johnson nodded the ball to Nadir Belhadj to give Pompey their opening goal (and, perhaps, Fabio Capello an ugly premonition ahead of England's World Cup clash with Algeria, given that Avram Grant's decision to deploy Belhadj to keep Johnson on the back foot turned out to be a masterstroke), Daniel Agger had been similarly slack when presenting Frédéric Piquionne with a chance that Pepe Reina did well to thwart.

After Belhadj's goal, and after Javier Mascherano deservedly got himself sent off for a slouch's tackle on Ben Haim, Benítez might have been expected to introduce Benayoun at half-time. Instead he waited until the 53rd minute. That might have been construed as a delayed reaction. His players, even though Asmir Begovic had to produce one superb reflex save from a deflected Gerrard shot, barely reacted at all. It came as no surprise when Carragher was caught cold by Piquionne for Pompey's clincher. Resignation seems to have infected Liverpool. Calls for a sacking will intensify.

Reckoning

Liverpool face Debrecen tonight with an early exit from the Champion's League for the first time in 6 years beckoning. It is a crunch time for the club and we hope the players respond as we know they can. Too many times this season we have been looking too ordinary and the League position is a true reflection of our state of play so far. Granted that Lady Luck has been unkind to us but it sometimes feels that some of the players have lost their self-belief. It is hoped another Great Escape is in the offing, or else Liverpool will be given another chance to increase their record in Europe's second tier competition. Go, you lads.

Hamstrings again

Yet more hamstring aggro for Rafa as it was revealed today that both Riera and Yossi picked up this knack against the Brummies. In the case of Albert, it was a recurrence in what is suspected as an incompletely healed lesion. Sigh! Problems just keep piling up.

Fragile hamstrings

In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to one of the three posterior thigh muscles, namely, the semitendinosus, the semimembranosus and the biceps femoris. I fear our players' have particularly frail such muscles this season. Perhaps we should review their trainning regimen. Oh yes, and adductors too.

Pre match Birmingham and Bad Luck

Rafa, in his pre-match interview highlighted Liverpool's run of bad luck (beach ball says it all)and the hope that this will soon turn. I have always said we were very lucky last season to get away with so few injuries and smiling Gods. This season it's been the reverse. We hope that our quota of bad luck has been provided for this early and that things can only get better. Rafa is 100% sure.
Another comment that has hit the nail on its head is: "But I have been surprised at what some critics have said about Torres' involvement. People who have played football for years seem not to understand that the manager has more information." How can people say so much when they know not all the facts. Let's all get behind the team.

On Rafa's back

There is truth in all that. Most of Rafa's purchases were cut price stuff, forced upon him by a combination of Rick Parry and lack of funds (and a lot of other extraneous circumstances). This type of players abound, and Liverpool aren't the only club to suffer this way (do you honestly think Rafa loves Voronin? He ain't got no choice!). Unfortunately, Rafa outpriced himself with Nando's success, initiating The Spanish Player Price Inflation, putting Silva and Villa out of his reach (compare Nando's 20+ with their 40's). Even a crocked Aquilani cost 20+. Nevertheless, Rafa has his flaws, all good managers do, but he has lots of great qualities. Compare what he has done with Ged Houllier's time and you will see the difference. Even if you wanted to get rid of him you couldn't, due to the severance pay and the amount required to replace him with another quality coach (such as Mour, who doesn't want to come anyway, knowing what the situation is). Which brings us back to money. So, Rafa it is, and we owe him the support, cause that's the best situation for now (due respect to Sammy and Kenny D shouldn't come back). It doesn't help to jump on his back; people like Ronnie Whelan have a personal grudge, don't listen to him. Who are these people who say YNWA in one breath and curse in the next? Just pray the injury crisis is over soon and money becomes available. A true Red knows where their loyalty lies.

5 former players assess Rafa's form

From the Guardian Sportblog

Jimmy Case

Liverpool 1973-81

The result against Lyon was disappointing but the performance was very encouraging and showed there is still a strong spirit inside the squad. That is heartening and proves the players have not lost faith in Rafael Benítez, which gives him something to build on and the fans hope that the team can turn things around. On top of that, the squad is only going to get stronger. Steven Gerrard will eventually come back and Alberto Aquilani will soon be ready to play a full 90 minutes. Also, the fringe players, like Lucas Leiva, Emiliano Insúa and Jay Spearing, will have benefited from the games they have played this season, and so long term will prove more useful and experienced options to Benítez than they do right now. Nobody should be panicking – this is a bad patch but not a long-term problem.

John Aldridge

Liverpool 1987-89

There's enough uncertainty around the club at the moment with the owners, the debt and the new stadium. The last thing you need is to be going out looking for a new manager. Rafa Benítez hasn't turned into a bad manager overnight. The pressure is on, but I'm fairly confident that when they get the likes of Steven Gerrard back, they have a squad good enough to go on a run and move into the top four, and hopefully get six points in the Champions League and progress. The plan went brilliantly in Lyon until the 90th minute. It was just a lack of concentration that caught them out.

Dietmar Hamann

Liverpool 1999-2006

Rafa has got everything a top-class manager needs. He will turn it around. People calling for Rafa's head are being premature. He has been there for five years and has improved every season. It's almost the first time in his five-year period at Anfield where they've had a bad spell like this. The team is good enough to pull through. All they need is a couple of good results and a couple of key players to be fit again. With Alberto Aquilani getting fit, Steven Gerrard on his way back and the fact they won't lose any players for the African Nations Cup in January, I think we'll see Liverpool improving from now on.

Ronny Rosenthal

Liverpool 1990-94

Rafael Benítez is by nature a defensive manager and he can struggle to put out a side to win games. That appeared to be the case against Lyon – Liverpool had most of the possession but did not convert that into too many clear-cut chances. It was no surprise that their only goal came from a long-range effort. Being defensive-minded seems to have also influenced his buying policy. Fernando Torres aside, Benítez has signed a lot of average strikers. That must change – Benítez has to go out, in January if possible, and sign a top striker to play with, or in place of, Torres. Another concern for me is at left-back. Emiliano Insúa is just not experienced enough to be playing in that position week in, week out.

Graeme Souness

Liverpool 1978-84 (player), 1991-94 (manager)

I think [Rafael Benítez] has been there five years and spent more money than anybody else other than Chelsea. Injuries are part of the game, especially when you get to November, but I think what's behind the first XI isn't good enough. Lyon aren't a great team. Lyon won at Anfield then lost 4-1 at Nice in the next game they played. What I can tell you is that if Rafa had been at any other big club, whether it be Arsenal, Man United or Chelsea, he wouldn't be there because I don't think the supporters at those clubs are like Liverpool supporters. I think they will be a bit more patient and give a manager a bit more time.

John Scales

Liverpool 1994-96

The key to any successful team is its personnel and Liverpool are lacking in that department right now. The players available to Rafael Benítez when his top performers are injured are simply not good enough. The depth in attack is a particular worry. Ryan Babel scored a fantastic goal against Lyon but then also showed his bad side with some erratic touches. Liverpool need more consistent, quality players when Fernando Torres is struggling to perform at his very best. Benítez must, then, transform his squad over the next couple of seasons to ensure they can compete with the top clubs in Europe. That, however, brings the finances of the club into focus – there are serious doubts that the owners can provide him with the money needed to bring in better players. One solution could be to give more young players a chance, but the danger is that their confidence could be destroyed by being part of a struggling side.

Reds in Trouble

After all that has been said and done, the root of the problem is shortage of money. If the Americans can bandy up with a decent amount, our woes up front can be addressed, not by someone imposed upon him, but by Rafa's own choice. It is said that he is heavily reliant on a defensive build-up, but that's because he can only afford good players in that realm. A decent striker costs in the region of 30-45 mil, and that's what's lacking. The January window has become crucial to us now.