Good Game Bad Game [vs Stoke]

After the week Liverpool had, it was almost inevitable that something like this would happen to end it on a sour note. Last week it was suggested that in beating Manchester United, Liverpool had finally overcome the problem that had held them back in the past. To an extent that is true yet Liverpool must also win these games to have a realistic chance.

Liverpool’s problems arose once again from the wide areas not because there weren’t any players willing to take crosses but rather as no one really tried to go past a man. This would have stretched Stoke’s defence and opened up spaces in the middle. Instead, cross after cross arrived into the box yet the Stoke defence could deal with them comfortably.

Of course, things would have been greatly different had Steven Gerrard’s goal been allowed to stand just as it would have been different if Liverpool had more to prepare for this game rather than a day and a bit. But none of that matters now.

The important thing is to get ready for next Tuesday in the Carling Cup when, hopefully, the reserves will get their chance to show what they can do.

Good Game
Pepe Reina was strong in the rare occasions the ball got near him and he dealt with Stoke’s set pieces with a fair degree of ease. So too did Jamie Carragher and Martin Sktrel who more than matched anything that Stoke put at them on both physical and technical level. Would it, however, been better to use Daniel Agger given his ability to move the ball forward and act as an additional midfielder? It would also help if one of the two were to make their physical presence count more when we're taking corner kicks.

Alvaro Arbeloa too had a decent match where he was careful defensively and got forward often. The problem was that neither he, nor Dirk Kuyt – who also had a decent game – offer that much creatively which is what Liverpool needed most today.

In midfield Steven Gerrard tried his hardest (probably too hard) to get a goal but sadly, this was a day when hardly any of his shots got on target and that allowed Stoke off rather lightly. Better, on all counts, was done by Xabi Alonso who was immaculate today and probably Liverpool’s man of the match.

There was also another very promising showing by Albert Rieira who has really landed on his feet. He was the only one who tried something different and perhaps should have stayed on the pitch for longer.

Bad Game
Sadly, this was another poor game from Andrea Dossena who is really struggling to adjust. He’s not a bad player yet, at the moment, he’s playing like Stig Inge Bjornebye used to, sending in crosses without bothering to look at the options.

Just as worrying is Robbie Keane’s form. Forget the fact that he hasn’t scored any goals yet, his overall play has been poor and, apart from a half against Aston Villa, hasn’t had a decent game in a Liverpool shirt as yet.

It was also a poor showing form Fernando Torres. Like Gerrard, he tried hard to score yet granted the games clearest cut chances, he failed to convert them.

Substitutes
Ryan Babel came on for Rieira and played well but sadly this time could not conjure a winner. Yossi Benayoun’s skills and abilities to go past people could have come in handy today. Unfortunately, when he came on he didn’t try this and just as the rest of the team resorted to crosses far too often.