First things first... We were hit with a sucker punch, a set piece similar to the one we used against the Chavs when Agger scored in the CL semi this year. The difference there was ours was a class act, well rehearsed and clinically executed. Teves was quickest to react to Shrek's scuffed shot but the initial idea was there and they just got lucky. Why Rooney wasn't marked is anyone's guess, it's 11 v11 out there so that in it's self is disappointing - end result: they scored and we didn't.
We dominated a great deal of the game but that counts for nothing when scoring goals does, that's what it's all about. We have been scoring goals for fun of late but against Utd it wasn't going to be that easy. As a football fan credit must be given where it's due and while they were jammy bas**rds this time and last we can not blame them for our own inability to score. Games are won with magic, moments of madness or a man(c) in the right place at the right time!
Torres unfortunately was not able to deliver the killer blow he has built his reputation on. It's hard to take when your best striker is having a difficult game at home in front of his adoring fans. He will learn greatly from this experience, he won't enjoy the taste of defeat when he feels the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. Kuyt just wasn't providing too much of a threat despite his undying perseverance and was rightly substituted by Crouch as was Kewell by Babel. Kewell's game is progressing little by little and it's great to see him getting plenty of action after his lengthy layoff through injuries. I don't think I need to say too much about Babel - apart from the fact he is a class act at only 20 years of age.
Gerrard and Risse could take free kicks all day and all night but Utd kept a tight rein on their defensive game (shabby as it was at times) and we constantly looked more likely to score! I would dearly like to see Risse score from somewhere, anywhere on the pitch for the sake of his own confidence. I am as frustrated as anyone to see the ball end up in row Z, but he tries hard. His game seems to be lacking in crossing and finishing but not effort, it might not be pretty but while he wears the RED shirt he deserves our support. When the illusive goal arrives it will be just reward for his efforts. He is not an out and out striker employed to score goals. Neither is he a winger although he has often played in an advanced role. He is ultimately a left-back. He made a rod for his own back with that historic "Rocket" v Utd in 2001. When he does score it is normally a memorable strike as was his last v the Chavs when he ran from his own half on the right wing. (I stand corrected - he scored v Barcelona en-route to this year's Champions League Final with his right foot!
)
Which brings me to the point - Finnan, a right-back, is a fantastic player who has only once ever scored for Liverpool in his 4 year LFC career (v Tottenham) and what a neat finish that was. To summarize this point :
No one expects Finnan to score so why pile the pressure on Risse. They both are defensive players who like to and can get forward. Put Finnan in front of a free kick and see what happens... he knows his job and sticks to it and is consistently good at it. Risse gives the best of what he can offer in various areas of the field and deserves credit for that - as annoying as a misplaced pass, bad cross or ball flying off in to row Z gets! :
I can't say that anyone in the team had a shocker to be honest. Some were less effective than others, true, adjustments were made but with no end result. Collectively we were not out classed or out performed on Sunday and this season we look a stronger squad on the whole.
Yes we dropped 3 points at home (against the last season's League Winners
:
) and yes we have drawn 6 games but there is still a long way to go yet. 10 points behind the leaders with a game in hand could reduce the deficit to 7 points. That's 3 must win games for sure (or 2 and a draw) plus obviously a good, strong concerted effort with every fixture that comes along. I don't want to see us relying on other teams to slip up and drop points (but I wouldn't mind!) To be Champions we have to weather 10 months of footy and still be able to produce the KO when it counts. Champions can take a beating if they're tough enough but it's how they react that matters... Istanbul, Cardiff, Marsille...
