Reds win ugly in London - Fulham 2-3 Liverpool

Captain Sensible: Gerrard to the rescue... Again!

Following the demolition of Arsenal over the weekend, one was asking too much for Brendan Rodgers' side to do the same in an away fixture to a team firmly rooted to the foot of the Premiership and fighting for survival. Last night at Craven Cottage proof was given  without doubt that this was indeed an ask too far. 

Liverpool were forced to come from behind twice against a resolute and well-organised Fulham side to take three precious points back to Merseyside. The expression "to win ugly" is very apt to describe the Reds' performance. Dogged, determined, persistent, relentless will also suffice. I felt Brendan Rodgers' side was going to come out on top, but as is customary these days, the defence done it's collective and calamitous best to undo the teams efforts in a difficult enough situation. 

Many will feel sorry for Fulham and that they perhaps deserved something from the game, and I'd be among them. After all is said and done, there's no room for sentiment in the beautiful game. Ultimately, René Meulensteen's men just couldn't contain the relentless attacking play from Liverpool. The result is all that people will remember and this one went in The Reds' favor. This was for me, a pivotal result for Liverpool. 

Their desire to win the game was evident, and the team maintained a healthy mentality and work rate throughout what must be said, was a stern test for them. I honestly couldn't have seen Liverpool winning this match last season. Their focus was both evident and commendable last night. Even when the side went 1-0 down after eight minutes to what I thought was, an avoidable own-goal from Kolo Tourè - who seems to be at the heart of every defensive calamity at the moment - I felt the visitors could come back. I shared the teams resolve.  Something I haven't done in a long while. I'd have probably lost interest and checked the other scores to see how many places we'd be falling!

Liverpool's intensity improved when Steven Gerrard was pushed forward from his new role in front of the defence and started exerting his influence on the game with more attacking intent. It was his long range pass from deep that Daniel Sturridge was able to latch onto, steer past Marten Stekelengurg and restore parity in the match just ahead of the half time whistle. Rodgers had a face like thunder as the teams headed off the pitch and despite the equaliser, the man had every reason to be cross. The teams desire wasn't translating into a coherent display. 

Even after Kieran Richardson had put Fulham ahead again in the 63rd minute - through yet more woeful defensive work, I still felt Liverpool would get something from the game. I'd have settled for a draw in all honesty at that point but I never thought the team would lose. It seemed impossible for the pressure Liverpool were applying not to pay off. Attack after attack was taken to the hosts. Nine minutes later the visitors were back on level terms. Philippe Coutinho rifling a low shot past Stekelenburg's outstretched hand into the corner of the net within 10 minutes of Richardson's effort. 

Liverpool pressed and pressed. Occasionally rattled by the periodic onslaught of lofted balls into their goal area. Finally in the last minute of normal time, the breakthrough came when Sascha Riether needlessly brought Sturridge down in the box. Referee Phil Dowd had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Captain Courageous Gerrard stepped up to put the ball past the home keeper, despite his getting a palm to it. The travelling support went wild. Again during the five minutes of injury time, a Fulham pumped long balls into their opponents box but they were coped with comfortably and hoofed  back to safety in response. There was no room for good looks in this period. The result, an ugly but deserved win to keep the Reds in the chasing pack at the top of the Premiership. 

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Fulham v Liverpool - Preview

The Reds of Liverpool travel down to the Capital

Luis Suarez: A sign of things to come?

tonight to take on rock-bottom Fulham, fresh from the emphatic 5-1 mauling handed out to Arsenal at the weekend. The inevitable title winning talk that followed, continues to be wide of the mark. Needless to say, anything can happen, but suffice to say Liverpool aren't quite Champion material quite yet.

Optimism has be the word for Liverpool fans and Brendan Rodgers' team going in to this match. Confidence is high and the team is playing with the freedom that this brings. Add to that the fact that Liverpool have not scored less than three goals against the bottom sides this season - 14 in total to be precise with only three against - and it would take a brave man to bet against Liverpool tonight. The players deserved the plaudits that came their way over the weekend after a result that few would have predicted. Few other than a friend and fellow Reds supporter who bagged a good few quid with a punt on... Liverpool to win 5-1!

The ease and efficiency with which the team dispatched with their visitors on Saturday left many a gasp but not everyone. When asked during the post-match interview if the plan was to score as many, and as early, as possible, Brendan Rodgers replied "Well we've been doing that all season, really..." and you have to say, he's correct. Against Manchester City and Chelsea however, that came back to haunt them, suffering 2-1 reversals on both occasions. Those two teams remain for me, the contenders for the title, and the only teams who can pose any threat to Liverpool. I wouldn't have counted Arsenal before the weekend and I certainly won't count them now. Despite that I think they'll give Manchester United a beating tonight as a result of Saturday.

Having said that, there are no easy games in the Premier League and Liverpool have been found wanting against the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa and Swansea City. The only upside there is that they were all drawn and points gained nonetheless. Games they'd probably have lost in recent years. However, the performances against Hull City where the Reds were well and truly done over 3-1 and the feeble 1-0 loss to Southampton are the kinds of matches that simply cement my view that Liverpool are not quite there yet. There is a pattern there. three of the five results I've mentioned were away from home, and this is my only concern going into tonight's match at Craven Cottage.

In terms of the starting eleven, I don't see any change from Saturday's team. Jose Enrique and Lucas Leiva are still not back in training and whilst Daniel Agger is, I suspect tonight's match may be a tad too soon for him. Mamadou Sakho shall remain out for the next month or so. The Liverpool Bench is looking very thin and quite unconvincing at this point and I'm not sure the squad can stand many, if any more, injuries for the time being. The bench on Saturday's consisted of just one defender and this fuels my opinion that Rodgers must strengthen the back line in the next window.

On the balance of things, I think Liverpool should come away with the three points tonight, and with a margin of a couple of goals, despite the apparent inconsistency on their travels. As a tactic, I'm sure the team will attack the Fulham left because at 33, I don't believe John Arne Riise is going to be able to do much with Raheem Sterling. I don't think even Robert Frederick Chelsea Moore can help the cottagers tonight. The Tube strike is off, and the match is on.  My message for the players, as Francis Underwood would say "...Don't disappoint me!"

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Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal - Match Report

I'm da man!!

In the words of an old commentator "It's becoming a rout...!" And so it came to pass. It did today, with Liverpool giving Arsenal a good hiding at Anfield this afternoon. For the first 20 minutes, Brendan Rodgers' men were simply unplayable as they stormed into a 3-0 lead to leave the Gunners shell-shocked.

Two goals from set pieces by Martin Skrtel in the first and tenth minutes put Liverpool on their way, and from then on the writing was on the wall. The Reds pressed and harried the visitors and allowed them no time to settle. It's fair to say for the first half hour, it looked as if Liverpool would score with every attack as the visitors succumbed to wave after wave of attack. On 16 minutes, industrious play by Jordan Henderson winning the ball from Jack Wilshere to find Luis Suarez in space. The latter's low centre was met gratefully at the far post by the irrepressible and unmarked Raheem Sterling who slotted home to deliver a mountain for Arsene Wenger's men to climb if they were to salvage anything from the game.

Four minutes later, eagle-eyed Philippe Coutinho had the vision to slot an absolute slide-rule pass into the stride of Daniel Sturridge who broke from midfield between the two dozing Arsenal centre backs and notched up his 15th Premier League goal of the season. Poor Wojciech Szczesny could only look on as the ball bulged the back of his net for a fourth time. This was surely game over now for Arsenal. Liverpool's energetic tempo in midfield gave the visitors no hope of getting back into the game. Wilshere's frustration was clear to see as he tangled endlessly with Coutinho and the immense Steven Gerrard, excelling in his new role in front of the back four.

At the start of the second half, Arsenal showed some purpose to their game but it was clear to see from their body language that it was going to be a long, long drive back home to North London. Their heads had not only dropped, but squarely dragged on the lush green Anfield turf. It was against another half hearted Arsenal attack that the final nail into their coffin was dealt. Contrary to my assertion in the LFC File preview earlier, Aly Cissokho turned up for this match and was actually, "...all that". His forward clearance found the effervescent Sterling who controlled the ball neatly before stabbing home his second on the rebound from the on-rushing Szczesny - and effectively seal his man-of-the-match performance,. 

It was all over now. The fat lady didn't even have to open her mouth, let alone sing. The Kop cheered Liverpool's each pass as Wenger's men, bereft of ideas, chased the game to no avail. However, a clumsy challenge from captain Gerrard on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain inside the Red's area gave Mikel Arteta the chance to at least, spare Arsenal the ignominy of a complete whitewash. The penalty was greeted with cheers from both supporters. The Liverpool fans in keeping with their reputation for wit and sportsmanship!

So a good afternoon's work for Rodgers' men and a good result to set them up for their stay in London next week with away games at Fulham and, what will surely be a tasty FA Cup Fifth Round tie at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, following this result. The Reds have shown their promise today and I wouldn't even say this was their best performance of the season so far. The drubbings of Tottenham and Everton can't be overlooked either although given Arsenal's place at the top of the league one could argue as such. 

What I'd like to see though, is less of the kind of sloppy play that undone the side against West Bromwich Albion last week. As the teamtalk in Football Manager goes... "Why can't you play like this every week?"

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Reds return in style... With my help!

"What would the LFC file do...?" Brendan wondered.

I don't have many readers to this blog. Around 300 at the last count and fortunately growing. I think it's pretty fair in content. Praise and criticism of the team, manager and players in unequal but fair measure. However, I think there's one important reader. A reader in the shadows. His participation unknown to others. His last name begins with 'R' and his christian name with 'B'.

No, I'm not talking about Boo Radley, the spooky guy from the Harper Lee novel "To Kill a Mocking Bird", or even "British Rail" the never ending story about a rickety old railway in England! I mean Brendan Rodgers of course, the current incumbent of the Manager's seat at Liverpool Football Club. A man who I have claimed on more than one occasion as the man to bring the good times back after the Reds' faltering recent fortunes. This is a claim I will stand by because not only is his team playing attractive football and on a more consistent basis, but also because the club has a manager with real passion and understanding of the club, it's values and the city it represents. Call me nostalgic but those are very similar traits to previous, successful manager who is charged with beginning the most fruitful era in the clubs history. 

This reader of mine, Brendan Rodgers, is clearly reading this blog because he made the very changes that I suggested yesterday. Ask yourselves, seriously. There can only two reasons for his team selection. The first could be that Rodgers woke yesterday morning and thought "Mmmmm... Let's have a look at what 'The LFC File' thinks. Maybe that'll give me a few pointers". And, duly noting my suggestions, and following a pre-match discussion with Colin Pascoe the plan was put in place. He opted to start with a back four, Philippe Coutinho on the left and the welcome return of Glen Johnson at right-back. Okay, I also suggested playing Daniel Sturridge or Luis Suarez wide as part of a front-three. Actually that was just a red-herring because I knew Martin Jol, devoid of any ideas as to how to improve his free-falling Fulham side, would also be reading to get a few "pointers" of his own. Needless to say, this literary dummy sold the poor bugger completely! And so it came to pass (for want of a better expression), The result... A crushing demolition of Jol's side.  

The second reason, one that some may say is slightly more plausible, would be based on what I mentioned earlier about Rodgers' suitability for the post. He has clearly learned from his mistakes and made the changes on the simple basis that, that's what anybody with an ounce of footballing nous would have done. Coupled with the fact that he understands the importance of returning to winning ways following the disappointment at Arsenal last week. Especially against the kind of team Liverpool should be beating easily with all due respect to Martin Jol and Fulham. Personally, I think this reason is boring and couldn't possibly be correct. I prefer the first one. 

I thought the game itself was as you've come to expect from Liverpool this season. Storming out of the blocks to burst into a two or three goal lead and then play more of a containing game in the secon half, once the opposition have realised what's going on and try to do something about it; Although I don't think Fulham made any such realisation yesterday. Jordan Henderson was again his hard-working and reliable self. Even if, again his finishing let him down. His work for the team and passing was spot on. Of course most of the plaudits goes to Suarez for his finishing. However, for me, Steven Gerrard was the stand out performer and God only knows how Rodgers will replace him when he finally hangs his boots up. It's a question worth pondering as much as it is difficult to answer. The return of Coutinho added a bit of urgency and invention that's been missing in recent games. Victor Moses has done ok in that position but he has some catching up to do, in my opinion, before he becomes an automatic option in that role. Martin Skrtel's goal underlined the improvement in his form and showed that the defensive places are currently well contended in the squad. Only a good thing. 

So, all in all a good performance from the Reds and three valuable points to keep them in the hunt. The result between Chelsea and West Brom also done Liverpool a favor and opens up a small gap and at the time of writing, Tottenham are 1-0 down to Newcastle so long may that continue! The key for Liverpool is to build up some confidence over the next few fixtures. The festive season pits them against Manchester City and Chelsea so I think it's vital to keep the momentum for the next few matches. 

A last mention for John Barnes who turned 50 in the week. A total legend for Liverpool and the likes of whom are unlikely if ever to be found in a Liverpool shirt again. Probably the most technically gifted player I've ever had the pleasure of watching. 

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Here we go again...

So game 11 of the 2013/14 premiership season kicks off this afternoon and there are some interesting fixtures to note. 

First things first though of course and Liverpool entertain Martin Jols Fulham side at the Anfield this afternoon. With The Cottagers languishing in 16th place on the league, one has to be optimistic for Bremdan Rodgers' men. Usually this is the type of match one would beat describe as a potential "banana skin" for the Reds. 

In recent times Rodgers has made a good job of focussing his side to step it up against the so-called lesser teams and I hope this continues today. One thing that concerns me is Liverpool's inability to keep a clean sheet and I have to say the flaws in the 3-5-2 the team have deployed this season were surely exposed against Arsenal. I'd like to see Rodger's return to four at the back for a fixture that needs to bear 3 points if Liverpool are going to be taken seriously as contenders this season. 

The return of Glen Johnson should go some way to providing some solidity at the back. Despite his clear defensive shortcomings, his experience is invaluable. Most if all, is like to see Philippe Coutinho make his first start since returning from injury and his creative flair and eye for a pass will do the home side no harm at all. A lot more effort from the whole team and better communication between Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez wouldn't go a miss either!

Away from that we have Chelsea at home to West Brom and "I'd luv it!" If Steve Clarke could get one over his old boss in his own back yard and do Liverpool a favour at the same time. With Tottenham, Arsenal and Man City all playing tomorrow, a nice win to show their credentials would do Liverpool no harm. 

Here's hoping the post-match review will be a positive one. 

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