INJURY-TIME equalisers never go out of fashion. Never have, never will. There’s something fabulous about them.
But before we get stuck into this — next season, next season, next season…
Next season: Chelsea will be good. Chelsea will be very good. They were quietly very impressive tonight, deserved their point and had chances to put the game beyond us. We had chances too, tons of them. Two good sides; two good, good sides.
It was a pleasure to watch at times, helped by the fact that both sides could play with a degree of freedom. The game had a lot riding on it, all the things football matches should always have riding on them — pride, desire, the wanting and needing to be better. Both sides showed that. But it didn’t have the next thing that so often leads to fear.
Liverpool started well, wanted to put the matter to bed. But that didn’t happen and never quite looked like happening. Balls bouncing against them, bobbles of luck going the other way, genius just lacking. The two very good things every goal needs or one brilliant thing just not quite happening and Chelsea not being interested in making a mistake.
Instead they grew into the half and by half way through the first period they were in the ascendancy. They are a side whose league position belies the quality in the squad. We think we are the same. Can we all be right? We will find out very soon.
Hazard carried the ball marvellously through the middle of the pitch, something which watching Sevilla scouts will have noticed. Liverpool can be turned around in the middle of the park, can be ran at. Liverpool’s weaknesses don’t seem to be wide areas currently. A diamond could cause us some problems at the moment.
Liverpool’s front four was fluid. Possibly too fluid. Liverpool were without a point man in possession. Both Sturridge and Firmino searching for it, Lallana flitting and making third man runs, Coutinho ironically being the most consistent in his position off the left.
We went in a goal down and then it got too hectic. I can’t work out if Liverpool spending the whole of the second half as if there is only five to go is a good thing or a bad thing. It feels as though it should be brilliant, bring about genuine urgency. And yet it seemed too hurried, too many attempts, too little pressure. Liverpool charging around and forcing issues, Emre Can especially guilty of looking to do too much too soon. There were endless shots. Liverpool bombarding but rarely opening the door.
Allen on felt like a change to improve this but Milner off and two up suggested the manager was happy enough with the state of affairs. Two changes that screamed out force it.
The contribution from Allen that drew the biggest cheer proved to be that of his daughter on the lap of honour. The lap of honour took place in good spirit because finally Liverpool did ultimately force it. Ojo crossed it in, Begovic flapped at it and Benteke nodded home a deserved point.
Liverpool have finished their domestic campaign relatively strongly. 2016 could have been better in the league but hasn’t been staggering. These things matter though. Those consistently involved can feel good about events.
Everyone will feel better should Liverpool win the final. Up the finalist Reds.
You’re assuming their best players will still be there Neil, I don’t think they will.
Have to agree with Paul. Hazard will be off to PSG and he is their inspiration. I also hope Sevilla fall into the trap of believing we can be got at in midfield as next week will be totally different. I thought we played (particularly in the first half) like a side that didn’t want to get injured before a major final and lacked any intensity.
Exactly. I thought that too. Hazard was brilliant, but he’s going to tear any side apart that won’t put in a tackle out of fear of injury.
Exactly what i was thinking, looked like a pre season friendly or an expedition game to me.
Was nice of Hazard to choose us as his game to turn up for wasn’t it. Not often you go to Anfield and see a player with even better close control than Coutinho but there you have it.
Say what you want about Chelsea but unless of course they’re deliberately trying to get a manager sacked they can hold a good shape even in games they’re sleepwalking through. Probably a product of having most of the best managers of the past 15 years pass through their doors.
Re The Pink:
From what I gather, and I may wrong, Aubameyang credited Klopp with moving him 10 yards further up the pitch last season and transforming his game. It was that move which made him so successful this season.
Thought Kolo was immense, and it was noticeable that we did bring Hazard down more and more as the game progressed. Dejan lost his head again though. He’s had a really good season but top players can still rattle him. Needs to work a bit on his composure.
Sturridge may be evolving into more of a shadow striker, like Kenny. He’s a pure footballer who probably does believe he can do anything on the pitch. Yosser Sturridge.
What do you do with a problem like Bobby F? That touch…..Is he the new John Wark or will he improve next season? Time will tell.
Has anyone seen Sevilla play? I’ve no idea what they’re like. I know they win stuff but how do they play?
No idea how Seville play but i’m very much hanging onto the fact they haven’t won an away game in the league all season. What that tells us i’m not sure!
As an aside, where would be the best place to watch the game in town? Needs the right balance of atmosphere and easy service of ale.
Camp & Furnace I’d say, although easy service is going to be difficult everywhere I’d imagine. I wouldn’t be paying for a ticket to watch it on this big screen they’re supposed to be lashing up to deter people from going personally.
Echo Arena – £5.
Cheers, hadn’t thought about Camp & Furnace.