Changing perceptions

A LITTLE over a fortnight ago a friend of mine, a sports writer and Manchester United fan, commented on Facebook about the nominees for the MBNA Northwest Football Awards 2011.

Stating that he was ‘laughing so much it hurts’, the journalist in question poured scorn on the notion that Liverpool’s defensive midfielder, Lucas Leiva, was among the candidates, and not David Silva or Wayne Rooney.

In terms of the quality of those two top players being overlooked by the judges, he certainly had a point. And in fairness, he later conceded that Lucas would probably be our best player against Chelsea (while questioning the Brazilian’s usefulness against inferior opposition we are expected to routinely beat at home, something many Reds have done in the past.)

Nevertheless, I was somewhat puzzled by his dismissal of Liverpool’s player of the year in 2010/11, and couldn’t help but remark on the irony that his beloved Manchester United would be a much better team if they could sign Lucas, as they sorely lack a player of his ilk and have done since Owen Hargreaves’ brief playing days at Old Trafford. 

This was all too apparent when Manchester City crushed the champions 6-1, running roughshod over their impoverished, bedraggled midfield last month. Thankfully at Anfield on Sunday there was to be no repeat of that devastating display. What we did see instead was the MBNA Northwest Football Awards’ Barclays Premier League Player of the Year collect the post-match champagne for an imperious performance at the heart of Liverpool’s midfield (replicating his showing at Stamford Bridge a week earlier), after keeping the aforementioned Mr Silva quiet and the heralded Yaya Toure trapped firmly in his proverbial pocket.

Make no mistake; Lucas was nothing short of sensational. The statistics are there for all to see: 13 out of 16 challenges won on the ground, four out of four headers won, seven successful tackles in seven attempts, seven interceptions, and crucially, a 92 per cent pass completion rate. 

Yes, his role is not one that lends itself too readily to highlight reels, as he collects the ball from the back four and initiates attacks, keeps the ball moving quickly by playing simple passes to team mates, always makes himself available for a return pass, shuts down opposition moves by tracking runners, wins headers and 50/50 ground challenges and nicks back possession through intelligent anticipation. Defensive midfielders are not expected to be creators supreme, nor feature highly in top scorer's or top assist maker's charts. But two moments in the second half were worthy of inclusion in any compilation package, as can be seen here, with thanks to the tremendous editing skills of MilanKakaBaros. 

The first sees the human steam train that is Toure charge upfield, only to find Lucas inconceivably resistant in his path. Lucas outmuscled his opponent, a man that dwarfs him in size, leveraged his body between him and the ball, won it back cleanly and in one motion, as he was still regaining his feet, sent a pass forward and Liverpool on their way to goal once more. Toure looked so baffled by the whole affair that he could do only one thing – hold out his hands and whine at the referee.

The second sequence sees Lucas facing our goal, collecting a wayward pass from Glen Johnson with Edin Dzeko in pursuit. He turns, finds a little room, and plays a shot pass to Jordan Henderson, before accelerating past Silva and asking for a return ball. Henderson picks out a different target, Luis Suarez, but Lucas maintains his run, and receives an instantly flicked pass from Suarez instead. The ball is chipped, and needs to be controlled with a deft touch, something Lucas illustrates immediately, driving towards the box. On the edge of the area he fed the Uruguayan, whose resultant effort was saved superbly by Joe Hart. 

It would have been a worthy winner of any game, and one for which Suarez, not Lucas, would have been acclaimed. But that is Lucas Leiva’s remit – he is a player in masterful command of his position, who gives the Suarez, Silva and Rooney’s of this world the platform to shine.

Of course, Lucas was far from our only outstanding performer in what was a very promising day for the Reds against probably the best side in the Premiership. Manchester City have blown aside nearly all domestic obstacles this season, dropping only two points before Sunday at Fulham, yet at Anfield they found themselves hanging on for a draw and scraping a point, even before they were reduced to ten men.

It didn’t look that way at the start, the slick interchange of passes between Silva, Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero threatening to cut us wide open on more than one occasion. This City side is thrilling in attack, and very pleasing on the eye. Fortunately when they did break through Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel were quick to obstruct their route to goal and with Dzeko on the bench and Aguero struggling for goals as of late, City didn’t actually test Pepe Reina in the opening stages.

When their goal did come it was from an unlikely source – Vincent Kompany’s shoulder. Silva swung in a cross, Charlie Adam on the front post perhaps advanced further than he should have done and subsequently could not win the ball, and Dirk Kuyt and Johnson failed to prevent Kompany escaping their attention and rising high to deflect the ball into the top corner.

City's joy was short-lived, and I think how quickly we responded changed the course of the game. Kenny Dalglish had dropped Maxi Rodriguez in favour of Stewart Downing, and with Craig Bellamy omitted on compassionate grounds following the desperately sad death of his national team boss, Gary Speed, Jordan Henderson had been reinstated in the side.

The three-man midfield Henderson formed with Lucas and Adam gave Adam the scope to play further forward than he had at Chelsea, a role he took to with relish. Just two minutes after we conceded the Scot shot from distance, the ball took a wicked deflection of Joleon Lescott (who contrary to recent reports still looks like a weak link in the City defence to me) and we were level.

From that point on, while City occasionally troubled our goal, Liverpool were the better team. We pinned back their galloping fullbacks, Micah Richards finding himself in unfamiliar defensive territory thanks to Jose Enrique’s power and pace, and we began to test their resolve. Sadly, Joe Hart was in stunning form, and he showed the kind of steely determination between the posts that wins you titles. The first of many great saves he made with his feet, after Dirk, unable to elude Clichy, pulled back a pass to Adam who attempted to sidefoot a second into the bottom left hand corner. 

Reina made a smart near post save before the break from Aguero, but it was his opposite number who was called into action more frequently in the second half. He wasn’t troubled when Dirk headed poorly down and wide from a Stewart Downing cross, but then he tipped a mishit Downing effort spectacularly over the bar, and went on to make the aforementioned save from Suarez.

In the meantime we were presented with the gift of the latest act of stupidity from Mario Balotelli, a man who amuses me endlessly with his unique combination of God-given football talent, appreciation of fireworks and darts and a brain so small it must rattle within his skull. First Super Mario pulled back Johnson for a professional foul and cast-iron yellow card, then, when any other professional footballer would surely be aware that he was treading a thin line with the referee Martin Atkinson, he clearly led with his arm in an aerial challenge with Skrtel.

It was not an elbow, and not a straight red card offence, but it was a yellow, and with the added help of Martin cynically clutching his head and face, that is what it received. Roberto Mancini has indicated that Liverpool players surrounded the referee in a bid to get Balotelli sent off, but in fact it was his players, led by Kompany who got under Atkinson's nose. I did spot Adam however doing his best elbow impression, just in case the referee couldn’t make up his mind. The bottom line is Balotelli was reckless and foolish, and he has no sympathy from me whatsoever. I felt the same way when Adam lunged into a tackle minutes after a booking at White Hart Lane and earned himself an early shower.    

With City now pinned back and us pouring forward, I was concerned we would be susceptible to a counter attack. Yet when it came, thanks to a powerful run from Dzeko who fed Silva, Reina showed just why he is the finest ‘sweeper keeper’ in football today. He raced to the edge of his box, jockeyed Silva and delayed his decision, forcing him wide until Silva shot tamely at our goal, where three Liverpool players had then assembled.

It seemed like a late, glorious winner was moments away, but Hart was not willing to concede again. In stoppage time he produced a great save from an Andy Carroll header, the big man on as a substitute for Dirk, and then, when the ball fell to Suarez, parried his low drive as well. The rebound came to Downing, who once again failed to show the composure or quality we need from him. Instead of laying it back to the unmarked Carroll, he lashed the ball high over the bar. It marked another below par performance from the winger, who again could be seen arguing with Jose Enrique on the left flank.

However, it seems to me that this Liverpool team is now really starting to gel, as the new players with the exception of Downing (and last year’s big buy Andy Carroll) have settled well, and are growing into their stature as Liverpool players with each performance. Adam looks very much the part after his early difficulties, and despite the over-the-top criticism in some quarters, Henderson looks like a very good young player to me. He was impressive again, and following a great cameo against Chelsea, he used the ball well, showed good movement and grew into the game in the second half. 

I am delighted to say that we look like a good side again, a team that passes the ball incisively and with confidence, a team that can come from behind and responds to setbacks in a positive manner, and a team that shows the bravery and belief to push for maximum points no matter who the opposition or circumstances. The obvious concern is our lack of goals, because if Suarez is going through a barren spell as he is at present, it is hard to see who will step up to the plate. But the team as a whole is playing good football, we are defensively solid and we are creating enough chances.

Looking to tonight’s game against Chelsea I would hope for more of the same approach that worked so well in the league, yet a slightly adapted frontline with Carroll as the spearhead. Bellamy should return along with Maxi, and at the opposite end Jamie Carragher will be back in defence for the first time in a month. We haven’t missed Jamie since he has been out of the side, which has been testament to the form of Skrtel and Agger, but I still think he has a lot to give. 

I would expect Martin Kelly to play and Jay Spearing, but beyond that I can’t see many youngsters featuring, and I think Kenny has some difficult decisions to make. With two games in 48 hours we will have to field some tired legs, and at present it’s hard to see how we can omit any of our four spine players – Reina, Agger, Lucas and Suarez – and maintain our strength. 

Not long ago the thought of a Liverpool spine without Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher would be incomprehensible. But as Lucas Leiva could tell you, things can change very quickly in football.