The Victimization of David N'Gog

These have probably been a very uncomfortable couple of days for David N'Gog. The dramatics with which he won the penalty against Birmingham might be lauded as cunning elsewhere but, as many have been eager to point out to him, they aren't as celebrated in England.

The flip side, of course, is that the penalty got a point for Liverpool. It is easy to be sanctimonious but the only ones who really have a reason to be outraged are the Birmingham fans. The reality is that there isn't a team in the Premiership that doesn't try to trick or pressure referees into giving decisions their way. And does anyone complain when it is done in an England shirt? Of course not.

Sadly, however, that won't stop David N'Gog from being labelled a cheat something that is going to be very hard for him to shake off. You can sense that the next time he goes down, the referee will think twice before giving a decision in his favour: that suspicion is part of human nature.

Hopefully all of this won't affect N'Gog's confidence. The penalty quickly erased the memories of what happened just moments before when he sprinted past two Birmingham defenders in a move that was lifted straight out of Fernando Torres' manual (remember his goal against Marseilles?). It is that move which forced Lee Carsley into his lunge which - and this has been overlooked as well - got nowhere near the ball and could have seriously injured the player hadn't he jumped.

Indeed, N'Gog's performance has was one of the few bright sparks from that game and the season so far. His goal against Birmingham involved terrific skill - how else can hitting the ball with such power and precision before it hits the ground be described? - but his overall play has improved beyond recognition. There is an added sense of maturity around the way that he plays and he knows what is doing as well as what he should be doing.

Of course, confidence plays a critical role. That goal against Manchester United has fuelled the belief that he is good enough to play for Liverpool. That is not something which the player himself ever doubted but now even the fans are starting to believe it and that belief is something that he will feed on during games.

Naturally there are still aspects of his game that need improving. His control isn't the best, for instance, and it will be interesting to see how he reacts when things aren't going as well as they are at the moment. Above all, he needs experience to enable him to exploit certain instances during the game. Which probably means learning to drag his feet a little bit better when there is a tackle on him in the penatly box.

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Good Game Bad Game [vs Birmingham City]

When David N'Gog scored so early on, the game opened itself perfectly for Liverpool: this was the ideal starting point, the launching pad that could lead to a much needed win. Then came the inevitable defensive lapse that resulted in a conceeded goal which was followed up by the sucker punch of Cameron Jerome's splendid but somewhat fortiuitous goal and suddenly it was a repeat of so many games this season.

In the second half, as in the first, Liverpool continued to dominate but, even so, there never was the confidence that this game could be turned. Indeed, the players lacked the conviction needed to really cause Birmingham problems: if anything they looked frightened at the prospect of dropping points.

Fair play to Birmingham who came with a game-plan and executed it well. But for N'Gog's dramatic fall in the box, they could have even won this. Then again, that would have been too harsh on Liverpool

Good Game
Daniel Agger's ability with the ball at his feet adds another dimension to Liverpool's play especially in games like these were he needs to play as an added midfielder. Martin Skrtel hasn't yet reached the same levels of last season but he was good enough for most of the game. This was a solid, if unspectacular, game by Emiliano Insua who is making improvements with each game even if he needs to pay more attention so as not to keep players onside when the others have moved forward.

The highlight of the night was Glen Johnson's performance as the right-back was quite simply sensational. Time after time the tore a hole in the Birmingham defence and they never really managed to quiten him. Liverpool have missed him in recent games: my man of the match.

It is in games like this that Liverpool need a more creative midfield force then Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva. Neither one of the two played badly but the truth is that playing two essentially defensive midfielders against a side with no real intention to attack is an invite for trouble.

Albert Riera wasn't having a particularly good game until he left the pitch injured (and, judging by his reaction, it doesn't look good) yet his presence on the left was stretching the Birmingham defence and leaving a lot of gaps for the midfielders to exploit. Yossi Benayoun, who eventually went to fill that role once Riera departed the pitch, doesn't have that same sort of skill yet he did well enough with his usual movement and flair. Unfortunately, given the way that Birmingham were playing - with eight players in the penalty box - it was difficult for him to run past them or thread through that telling pass.

David N'Gog scored, won the penalty (although, in fairness, it shouldn't have been given) and made a decent fist of a couple of half chances. Even allowing for a number of mis-controlled passes, this was another promising game by the young striker who is continuously improving and is developing nicely into Fernando Torres' deputy.

Bad Game
Birmingham had two shots on goal and both of them went in. So it is hard not to say that Pepe Reina had a bad game. In truth, he could do little about the first but for the second he was caught too far away from goal and that is why Jerome's shot went in.

There is no faulting Dirk Kuyt's commitment yet sometimes more than that is needed. For all his huff and puff, Liverpool needed a bit more guile from him - occasionally beating the full back would have been nice - and they didn't get it here.

Substitutes
Steven Gerrard was a welcome sight but, despite scoring the penalty, seemed a bity rusty. Hopefully, he will be back to his usual form by the end of the international break. After last week's goal, there was an element of surprise in Ryan Babel's exclusion from the starting line-up. When he did come on, however, he did very litle to justify Benitez having more confidence in him.

There was another cameo appearance for Alberto Aquilani and once again he showed so excellent touches.

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Gerrard Out, But Why is Johnson In?

If you go by what has been written and said about Glen Johnson over the past few months, then you probably wouldn't have a very good opinion about the right-back.

Not good enough defensively, prone to lapses in concentration that leave him as well as his fellow defenders exposed, he is England's weak link and it was madness for Benitez to pay so much (whatever that 'much' is) for him.

Yet, if that is the case, why is it that Johnson has been picked for England despite missing so many recent games due to injury? Is it that Fabio Capello is so desperate as there aren't any other right-backs available?

Or is it, perhaps, that his ability to add another dimension to attack makes him a valuable part of the team? Surely not.

Of course, it would be much better for Liverpool if Capello were to take heed to what the talking heads are saying. The last thing that is needed right now is for the player with whom Liverpool have been so patient in getting fit to be injured yet again playing in a game that was set up purely to line the FA's pockets.

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Good Game Bad Game [vs Lyon]

A kick in the stomach. There's no better way to describe a game where, with a squad decimated by injuries, Liverpool went to Lyon and totally dominated. With better finishing, the contest should have been over by half time and when Ryan Babel scored, it looked as if Liverpool were going to get a much merited win. But it wasn't to be as the only mistake of the night resulted in a Lyon goal that makes it highly difficult for Liverpool to win.

The hope, now, is that Liverpool take heart of this performance and take this attitude into next Monday's game against Birmingham. Win there and then it will start to look a little brighter after what has been an attrocious month.

A final word about Lyon: they're a decent side, it has to be said, and have a very good goalkeeper. Yet they're also as lucky as hell. Take away two minutes from the end of both games against Liverpool and they would have three points less. Instead they're already through to the next round. Let's hope that they take something from their game in Florence. A win for them would be fantastic but a draw would leave Liverpool what that glimmer of hope (provided that Debrecen are beaten, of course).

Good Game
He didn't have much to do but Pepe Reina was always alert to what was going on and pulled off a fantastic save midway through the second half. Could do nothing about Lisandro's goal even though, agonisingly, he touched the ball. There is a rumour that Daniel Agger didn't sit for most of the trip to Lyon so as not risking aggravating his back injury. Whether true or not, thank goodness that he played as he was absolutely fantastic. What a boost it would be to have him available for the whole season.

Jamie Carragher was, yet again, ask to do a shift at right-back and he did a decent enough job. At least defensively because going forward he offered practically nothing. The same cannot be said of Emiliano Insua who was bright throughout the whole game and looked back to his best after a couple of games during which his confidence seems to have been shaken.

Is there anyone who still doubts Lucas' quality? That's a rethorical question - of course there are - but that probably is down to stubborness. For once again he was brilliant here: his anticipation, passing, tackling, movement were all spot on. His performance is one of the reasons why Liverpool managed to get a stranglehold of midfield.

Another reason was Javier Mascherano. Ever since Argentina qualified for the World Cup he has been completely transformed and his performances have been on par with those of two season back. This was the case once again here as he never gave the Lyon players any breathing space. My man of the match.

Yossi Benayoun tried as hard as he could to unlock the Lyon defence but he couldn't make one of his incisive runs. Even so, his intelligent movement and eye for a pass caused the defenders plenty of problems. Similarly Dirk Kuyt who, as always, worked as hard as possible for the team. Without a right-back with whom to dove-tail it was harder for him to create much but he still put in a couple of very good crosses.

One half chance is all that Fernando Torres got and, had he been fully fit, he would have probably put it away. Yet, despite his injury, he still fought hard and cause Lyon problems - so much that they often resorted to surrounding him with two or three players - as his mere presence can cause defences to panic.

Bad Game
He should have done better for the goal for which, Stolis Kyrgiakos has to shoulder a good share of the blame. In general, he was good and held up well against Gomis but then had brief moments where he made the most stupid of mistakes which could have easily resulted in goals against Liverpool.

It seems harsh to say that Andriy Voronin had a bad game because he did try hard. Yet you cannot have an opportunity like the one he had in the first half and not put it away.

Substitutes
Ryan Babel came on and looked as if he was going to continue in his recent vein of poor form. Suddenly he found that metre of space and smashed in that fantastic goal that deserved to be a winner. The question is why doesn't he show that sort of talent on a more regular basis.

David N'Gog came on for Torres in a move that was clearly aimed at running down the clock. Even so, he did well in the few minutes he was on the pitch.

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"Liverpool Fans Don't Make Knee-jerk Reactions"

Over the past few days I've been reading the book Secret Diary of a Liverpool Scout which deals with the life of former chief scout Geoff Twentyman (review of this should be online early next week).

Author Simon Hughes has done an excellent job of rounding not only players that Twentyman helped bring to Liverpool but also those that ended up elsewhere. One of these is John Gregory, the Aston Villia (among others) midfielder and manager who had this to say about the Liverpool fans.

"Fans are funny, aren't they? Sometimes they don't help. Your lot at Liverpool are the best, though. They're fantastic because they back the manager and the team. Liverpool fans don't make knee-jerk reactions and they give people the chance to prove themselves. Kopites really do get behind the team throughout the whol game - not just for 10 minutes like at some places. They're real fans."

This is how outsiders - those whose judgement isn't clouded by petty rivalry - really see us. Let's hope that they can still hold that view of us after tonight.

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Good Game Bad Game [vs Arsenal]

This was a game where, more then anything else, Liverpool were looking to see which players would enhance their reputation. And, in that respect there is plenty about which to be satisfied despite the defeat. Make no mistake, this was nothing like last year's feeble surrender at Tottenham: Liverpool played with determination and commitment that deserved a better outcome.

Arsenal played well - exceptionally well - in bursts during which they had Liverpool chasing shadows. It was during these moments that they scored their goals. Fair play to them and Arsene Wenger's policy of focusing on youth - on which he has been working for over a decade and spent a fair deal of money on, one must add - as they have some brilliant players coming through.

Good Game

He should have done better for Bendtner's winner but overall Martin Skrtel stood strong and, more often then not, helped stem Arsenal's attacks. Emiliano Insua scored a brilliant goal and, overall, had a very good game especially considering that he didn't have much help on that left hand side.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the game was Phillip Degen's performance. Defensively he's nothing brilliant but when he set off on a run on the right hand side, he invariably caused Arsenal problems. Should have scored in the first half but, that aside, at least it hinted that he could be a good squad player.

Jay Spearing didn't have a good first half: it wasn't Sunderland bad but it was way below what is needed at this level. Then in the second half, he seemed to grow in stature and started imposing himself more on midfield. He didn't show the level of play that he regularly did for the reserves but he showed way more then he's ever done in the brief appearances he's had in the first team and that is something that should give him a fair bit of confidence.

Apart from Degen's good game, the other major surprise came from Damien Plessis. After such a good debut against the same team two seasons ago, Plessis faded away but this season he has been playing quite a bit better in the reserves which is probably why he was granted a new contract. Whatever the reason for that, he played very well showing great intelligence and character. And he gave Voronin a real bollocking for the feeble pass that led to Arsenal's first goal.

Dirk Kuyt did the captain's job well: not only did he put in the usual mileage but he was constantly looking at getting other players involved. Another player who seems revitalised following Sunday's game which, hopefully, he will be able to take forward after a disappointing start to the season.

The goal against Manchester United clearly did David N'Gog a world of good as he repeatedly took on the Arsenal defence. His movement and overall awareness of the game was encouraging to see and he, more then anyone else, looks the ideal candidate to be Fernando Torres' deputy. My Man of the match

Bad Game

Diego Cavallieri did little to convince that he is an able deputy for Pepe Reina. Perhaps time has come to take a closer look at Peter Gulacsi. Equally disappointing was Sotiris Kyrgiakos who gave the impression that he didn't really know where he was supposed to be most of the time.

The worst performance of all, however, was undoubtedly that of Ryan Babel. Forget his incredible miss that would have sent the tie into extra time, he actually did nothing on the pitch to justify his starting spot. At this point, the only option seems that of letting go on loan in January in the hope that someone actually decides to buy him next summer. A massive disappointment.

I'm going to go against the flow and say that Andriy Voronin had, overall, a decent game: nota particularly good one biut not bad either. He started well enough and then was quite good in the final 25 minutes. In between, well let's just say that he was the usual player. The frustrating thing is that he clearly has enough talent to hack it but he lacks the determination to impose himself. When things start going against him, he starts sulking.

Substitutes

Alberto Aquilani got the cameo that everyone was hoping for and did enough during those fifteen minutes to show that he is indeed a class player. Still, patience is the key at this stage and he must be allowed to find his best form as well as get used to English football.

Yossi Benayoun did very little when he came on as did Nathan Eccleston although he was only on the pitch for six minutes. For the youngster, however, this was a massive occasion and surely he has to take heart at being given an opportunity. The player is talented and has that cockiness about him that is vital for a player to succeed. This was the first step for him but he is a real talent.

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The Lad Can Play: Nathan Eccleston

Irrespective of what some would have you believe, it is foolhardy to try and predict at an early age which players can make it at any professional club, let alone one with Liverpool's ambitions.

This should be the principle underlying any talk about the prospects of those players at the academy or in the reserves. Some might have the talent but not the characther, others might lack the physical strength to make a mark and then there are those for whom strength is the only attribute.

It is a one of or a combination of these factors that ultimately kill off many hopes. And the closer they get to the first team, then the more under scrutiny they will be.

This specific kind of pressure by itself can be enough to filter away some of those who don't have the determination required.

That is unlikely to be the case with Nathan Eccleston. Handed a new contract last year, there were rumours that the player could be on his way out having irritated the club's management by insisting that he deserved to be playing in the reserves rather than the academy.

Eventually this rumour died down and this season Eccleston has been playing for the reserves on a regular basis. That's not to say that the self-belief that supposedly led him to protest last year has been quietened down.

Indeed if there is an aspect of his play that is striking, then it surely is his supreme belief in his abilities. That, technically, he can pull off tricks that are out of the reach of lesser players obviously helps but even so he does constantly push his limits.

That, perhaps, is the biggest challenge facing him. The talent is there, so too the knack for scoring goals and the speed to handle football at a higher level. Yet tactically he needs to learn how to fit in and given today's highly regimented manner with which teams play that is as vital as the natural talent.

Whether Eccleston can best achieve that in the reserves or with a loan spell remains to be seen. What is sure, however, is that his standpoint last year was right: he deserves to be playing on a regular basis at the highest possible level to him. It is the only way with which it can be determined whether he can eventually make it all the way to the first team.

There are more similar features on Liverpool's young talent here. In the meantime, why not follow A Liverpool Thing on Twitter?

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