Well since my last blog, Liverpool have had a mixed set of results but for me there's a decidedly worrying theme that runs through nearly all the games - lots of chances, not enough goals. Suarez is now absent for a considerable period (I'll go into all that in the next entry) and of course Gerrard is only just coming back to fitness and without them I worry about who is going to make something special happen. Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll frankly convince me less by the day and given I thought they were lousy signings in the first place that says quite a lot. Maxi has never really convinced me that he's anything other than an ok squad player and for all Dirk Kuyt's stirling merits, he's never going to be the man to provide something out of the ordinary. Charlie Adam has had his moments, but I'm not sure they're enough.
I don't want to sound unduly negative. It's great that we seem to dominate most games we play (tonight against Man City being a quite emphatic exception) and I very much like our playing style under the King, but we've been so dependent on Suarez for magic moments and even he is not the most reliable finisher at all. He'd be great alongside a proper goalscorer...but we don't have one of them.
We have the best defensive record in the league and I guess you can't really complain too much about that. Despite his howler tonight, I believe Reina to be the finest keeper in the division while Agger and Skrtel have flourished this year while Enrique has been an excellent signing. I still have major doubts about Johnson defensively despite his exciting attacking play and would like to see Kelly become the first choice right back. I also remain concerned about our suspect marking at corners but I can't really lay any great claim to why that is..it's just a personal feeling when I watch us.
Anyway let's have an update on the games:
Chelsea 0-2 Liverpool (Carling Cup)
This was an excellent and efficient performance against an admittedly poor Chelsea. Craig Bellamy once again proved why he's arguably the bargain of the summer but it was disappointing to see the loss of Lucas to injury and the continued uselessness of Andy Carroll.
Fulham 1-0 Liverpool (League)
A thoroughly disappointing result and a good example of my above concerns although to be fair they did hit the woodwork a good few times, so this one could perhaps be termed unlucky more than anything. The sending off of Spearing was frankly ludicrous though.
Liverpool 1-0 QPR (League)
Just about got the three points but again a good example of our problem this season. All the possession and a lot of corners etc but struggled to force the keeper into too many saves. Maxi was poor in front of goal as was Kuyt.
Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool (League)
A confident and efficient performance although again, it was disappointing not to score more and it's worth noting that both goals came from poorly defended set pieces although I'm pleased that we did make something of these situations. Villa were seriously dire.
Wigan 0-0 Liverpool (League)
I managed to watch this one live! I kind of wish I hadn't...Liverpool had control of the game until the missed penalty but they really struggled afterwards and I felt Wigan deserved their point. All in all it was disappointing stuff.
Ratings:
Reina - 6
Not much to do but as ever he did it well
Johnson - 6
Good going forward, unconvincing in defence. Doesn't sound like him...
Enrique - 6
Solid
Agger - 7
Played well and created some good moves
Skrtel - 6
Mostly ok with the odd dodgy moment
Maxi - 5
Ineffective and I was relieved to see him brought off
Henderson - 6
Worked hard but provided little
Downing - 4
Really poor and uncreative
Adam - 5
Not his best display and a poor penalty
Suarez - 7
Moments of menace but not his best
Kuyt - 5
Far from his best form at the moment
Subs:
Bellamy - 6
Injected some energy but created little
Shelvey - 5
Did he play?
Carroll - 5
Not much time to make an impact...he didn't.
Liverpool 1-1 Blackburn
Another disappointing home display that should have been won.
Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
Steven Gerrard reminded us why he is such an important player. A great goal, great energy and creation and good deliveries for Carroll. He reminded us why he's not very good...
Man City 3-0 Liverpool
We were shocking.
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