If it ain't broke...

AFTER producing our most disappointing performance of the season at home against Swansea, it was somehow perversely logical that we would produce our finest away at Stamford Bridge.

This current Liverpool side seems determined to confound expectations, surrendering points at Anfield against lowly sides yet rising to the occasion when faced with sterner opposition.

Whether this is a question of mentality, employing a different tactical approach in big games, or simply lacking the quality and collective experience as a team to perform well consistently, I’m not quite sure. But in a strange way I felt more confident on Sunday than I did before our draws against Norwich and Swansea, and I expect I’ll have the same gut feeling when we host QPR in two weeks' time.

The fresh, attacking line-up we fielded against Chelsea immediately boosted my belief. For months Liverpool fans have questioned why the players who led our revival under Kenny Dalglish last term, spearheading a fluid pass and move game that saw us demolish Manchester United and Manchester City and trounce teams like Birmingham and Fulham, have been left on the bench or demoted to occasional League Cup participation, in favour of underperforming summer signings.

Both Maxi Rodriguez and Dirk Kuyt, who between them scored or created 22 goals under Dalglish from January to May, have often been left out at the expense of Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson, who in four months in a Red shirt have contributed just three – none in Downing’s case. Kuyt did sometimes play up front, but the man who has assumed that role this year when we have gone two up top, Andy Carroll, has been involved in just two goals.

Our new wide men have performed admirably at times, because Downing started very well on our left flank and has created several chances that should have been converted, and Jordan has shown a lot of potential despite being asked to play as a conventional right winger, a position in which he doesn’t look comfortable. 

But their repeated inclusion week after week, ahead of two players who shone so brightly and linked so well with Luis Suarez just six months ago, has been somewhat baffling, as has the limited use of Craig Bellamy, who in his brief cameos to date has looked to be in the best shape of his career, and the exclusion of Jay Spearing, another star performer in 2010/11.

We caught a glimpse of what that attacking quartet was capable of in a glorious 45 minutes away at Brighton and Hove Albion in the League Cup, as all four terrorised the Albion defence with interchanging runs, astute movement and at times, sheer brilliance. A 5-0 scoreline at the break would have been kind to The Seagulls.

Nevertheless, Kenny bamboozled everybody, dropping Andy Carroll, Downing and Henderson, recalling Dirk and Craig, and giving Maxi his first league start of the season. Lucas Leiva and Charlie Adam anchored the midfield and an unchanged back five put paid to the suggestion that Jamie Carragher might return in place of Martin Skrtel.

The team selection was the first of several tactical masterstrokes made by the King, pitting speed, guile and feverish commitment against an uncertain Chelsea defence, employing a high defensive line so ruthlessly exposed by Arsenal in their 5-3 victory last month.

In the first ten minutes Maxi was twice played in with Chelsea caught on the back foot, his limited pace the only thing (besides John Terry’s flailing arm) that prevented him giving us an early lead. 

It was already obvious that John Terry and David Luiz were not on the same wavelength, although to be honest Luiz didn’t look on the same wavelength as any player in a blue shirt. On paper he looks to have everything in his game that a modern defender needs, yet his rash approach and lack of nous must frustrate those around him.

There were scares – Jose Enrique losing Juan Mata who collected a cross and drove a shot well wide of Pepe Reina’s goal, and a free kick from Didier Drogba that hit the side-netting yet was announced as a goal by Sky’s commentator Martin Tyler. I was sure it had gone wide of the post and bounced back behind the net, but his insistence that it was a goal, as Drogba seemed to smirk but not quite celebrate in a Mario Balotelli fashion, left me a little worried. But the score counter remained 0-0.

Lucas, despite collecting a yellow card for a foul on his compatriot Luiz (something he comically tried to excuse by telling the referee that the Brazilian was his friend) was imperious in midfield, the booking not hindering his game one iota as he tackled and foraged. Yet it was his midfield partner who was my Man of the Match, Charlie Adam showing the discipline, workrate and defensive ability I seriously doubted he possessed.

The goal was a case in point, Adam sprinting forward to close down Jon Obi Mikel after the holding midfielder received a hazardous pass from Peter Cech. It was a brave decision that could have left Lucas exposed if he had not won the ball, but Charlie managed to feed Bellamy, who played it to Suarez, who laid the ball back off to Bellamy inside the box. Many strikers would have shot, but Craig hesitated and weighted a perfect pas across to Maxi, who was actually in a better position to score and did so in part thanks to a fortunate bounce.

Craig had a great first half, showing intelligence and a calm head when he had the ball, and all the fighting spirit and the snarling attitude we have come to love him for when Chelsea were in possession. He gives us a combative edge, a burning will to win, and I was delighted to see him tell Frank Lampard exactly what he thought of him.

At half time I commented that Chelsea would surely respond after the break, and Andre Villas-Boas did just that, showing exactly why he has gained a reputation as Europe’s finest young coach. Mikel was hooked for Daniel Sturridge, and Chelsea’s wingers were pushed up higher onto Glen Johnson and Enrique, who had enjoyed a lot of freedom in the first half, Johnson making one magnificent, marauding run that could have opened the scoring.

We looked leggy after playing with such intensity earlier in the match, something we have seen too many times this season. Our lack of fitness and inability to sustain a performance seems to be an ongoing problem, as we keep fading during the second half of games. Yet on this occasion it seemed to me to be a consequence of how hard we had pressed and the regularly cited effects of an inconvenient international break. 

Florent Malouda began to exert his influence on the game, with Glen receiving nowhere near enough protection from Dirk, who looked tired and far from his usual industrious self. Suarez, Bellamy and Maxi also looked very jaded, with Suarez subdued throughout, playing as with a minor back injury, and Maxi no doubt lacking match fitness.

Skrtel and Daniel Agger again produced top class performances, winning balls on the deck and in the air against Drogba, and justifying the time Kenny continues to invest in their partnership. But when the Chelsea equaliser came Agger was partly at fault, along with Enrique, Adam, Johnson, and worst of all, Dirk.

Adam tried to win the ball but failed, providing Malouda with space to advance. Kuyt made no effort to track the winger, which left Johnson exposed, and caught between marking Ashley Cole or closing down the man with the ball. By the time Adam caught up with Malouda it was too late to risk a tackle from behind, and his mis-hit cross found Sturridge, who eluded both Agger and Enrique.

Chelsea now looked most likely to win the game, and it took a world class save from Pepe from Branislav Ivanovic’s header to keep us in it. The save was truly outstanding – not only did the Spaniard dive down low very quickly to stop a difficult effort, he also managed to exert enough force with his arm and hand to divert the ball past the post and well clear of goal. A lesser goalkeeper may have made what was a tricky save, but spilt the ball back into the danger zone. It’s often said that a world class goalkeeper doesn’t just make saves, he earns you points, and that is what Pepe did on this occasion.

I was very impressed with the character we showed at this stage, refusing to buckle under the mounting pressure. But we needed a helping hand, and it came from the manager, Kenny reshuffling his pack and bringing on Henderson for Bellamy, then later Downing for Maxi.

Henderson helped us regain our shape in midfield, tucking in to give us three players against Chelsea’s midfield trio, and slowed down the pace of the game. He used the ball well and also made the most of the opportunities he had to run at Ashley Cole, hurdling challenges and playing in Downing as part of an incisive move. Dirk should have done far better with the final shot, opting to use his right boot when it fell on his left, and dragging the ball wide. At the time I thought we had blown our chance to nick all three points.

Fortunately, that was not the case. Chelsea brought on our two former players, the hapless Fernando Torres, who looks utterly disinterested in football altogether, and the man with the worst haircut in the game, Raul Meireles. Neither seized the chance to make the next day’s headlines. That honour in fact fell to our ex-Chelsea man, Glen Johnson.

Adam played the pass of the game – a sweeping ball which either Xabi Alonso or Steven Gerrard would have been proud of, and it found the fullback high up the field. The fact that he was allowed to push on in the dying minutes said a lot about the positive approach taken by Dalglish, and our refusal to settle for second best. 

What happened next said a lot about Glen’s natural ability as a footballer, as he drove towards goal, evaded Cole and Malouda, switched the ball between his feet and finished with aplomb in the bottom corner. Dirk Kuyt’s part in the goal is also worth mentioning, as it was his intelligent run that distracted Cole and opened up the space for Johnson. Small details.

In the moments that followed I’m not sure what I enjoyed more, the joyous celebration of Glen and Downing, Kenny’s touchline jig, or the replayed images of John Terry tumbling over as he just failed to prevent the goal. There was a time when a Liverpool victory at Stamford Bridge was as rare as an Everton win at Anfield. Now we’ve had three in the last four seasons. What a turnaround.

The next challenge facing the Reds is an even sterner test – the multi-million pound juggernaut that is Manchester City. Each week they seem to pulverise whatever side is put before them, any early resistance met by the introduction of several more superstars from their gold gilded, diamond encrusted substitutes bench. They have at least a team and a half full of top talent, a tremendous striker in Sergio Aguero and the Premiership’s best midfielder, David Silva. 

These resources have been enhanced by a new attacking philosophy, with right back Micah Richards playing like a right winger and holding midfielder Nigel De Jong often sacrificed in favour of more attacking talent. They look likely to win the title, and let’s face it, that is the lesser of two Mancunian evils.

However, City are coming off the back of a demoralising and hopefully exhausting defeat away in Italy, in which they were comprehensively turned over by a superior Napoli side, and this has made their hopes of Champions League progress slim indeed. Now is as good a time as any to face them, and I would like us to employ the same players and high pressing approach against Roberto Mancini’s men that worked so well in London. 

If City have one weakness it is in defence, namely the space their fullbacks leave behind them, and Vicent Kompany and Joleon Lescott’s vulnerability when faced with quick or intelligent movement and strikers peeling off them in and around the box. I know four men in Red shirts who fit the bill…

Will & Kate

“THE last time Steven Gerrard played for Liverpool, Kate Middleton was yet to become a princess.”

Bill Leslie is one of the better commentators on Sky, but his choice of words when announcing the return to action of our captain on Wednesday night was strange to say the least.

There is no doubt Gerrard’s first appearance since the 3-1 demolition of Manchester United back in May was a sight for sore eyes – we have certainly missed him, as any team would miss a player of his ability and stature.

But was it a historic moment on a par with the Royal Wedding? It was a fourth round League Cup tie away at Championship Brighton, not a European Cup final. And did it need to be placed in context with one of the major news events of the year?

If so, personally I’d have preferred “the last time Steven Gerrard played for Liverpool, Osama bin Laden was still the world’s reigning Hide and Seek Champion.” Or maybe “the last time Steven Gerrard played for Liverpool, the best toilet paper on a Sunday was the News of the World.”

Nevertheless, the man they call Captain Marvel has returned, and after a 4-0 away drubbing at Tottenham, with both the derby at Goodison and the visit of Manchester United to Anfield on the horizon, it was a welcome boost.

More welcome was the victory, and the manner in which it was achieved. In the first half Liverpool were excellent, and but for wasteful finishing and the woodwork we could have gone in at half time at least four goals to the good.

It was great to see the free-flowing, attacking football we witnessed last year again under Kenny, with the key protagonists, Suarez, Maxi and Kuyt, reunited alongside Craig Bellamy, who was outstanding. Linking with Suarez he showed great movement for his goal, and a tidy finish. And of course, the last time he scored for Liverpool, Michael Jackson was still on good terms with Doctor Conrad Murray...

Highlights of the first half included a delicious through ball from Dirk to Suarez. Sadly our number seven was once again not wearing his shooting boots, having missed a golden chance against Bolton two week’s previously. Other than that however Luis was excellent, and it is surely a matter of time before he finds the net. Such are the standards he has set, three games without a goal seems like a crisis!

A stunning 35-yard free kick by Bellamy that crashed against the crossbar followed, along with a drive from Jay Spearing that clipped the post. But occasionally our recent defensive frailty was apparent, with Steven Gerrard’s favourite Scouse roofer, Craig Noone, denied by Reina and Martin Kelly making an important clearance.
 

In the second half Brighton upped their game, and Sebastián Coates, who was good overall considering he was making his first start, gifted them a chance with a slack pass. Fortunately, after a sustained spell of pressure, the arrival of Gerrard sparked Liverpool into life once more, and his movement and intelligence played its part in our second goal, Maxi playing in Dirk whose drilled shot bounced in off the inside of the post. Dirk gave the travelling Kop the expected baby-rocking celebration following the birth of his latest son, and the win looked to be secure.

Sadly that was not to be, as a poor error from Spearing, who appeared to try to keep the ball in play and slipped when he should have let it go out, again gifted Brighton a great scoring opportunity. Carragher, who was excellent until that point (having made a series of crucial blocks and interceptions) dived in to try and make amends, and conceded the penalty. He has come under some harsh and some justified criticism these past few weeks, but for me, this was one penalty that was not his fault.

While it was frustrating to see us concede late on, Brighton’s late goal did not take the shine off an impressive Liverpool performance. It was also a showing that threw up yet more questions ahead of today’s game at home against Wolves. Should Bellamy, Kuyt and Maxi retain their place in attack, and should Coates be selected again alongside Carragher despite Skrtel being back from suspension?

Personally I think Downing has been playing well, and should line up on the left ahead of Maxi. But if the squad operates along the lines of a meritocracy, Andy Carroll should really make way for Bellamy. It is a tough call, and I would be inclined as stated previously to play Andy into form and give Craig half an hour off the bench. On the right I think Kuyt should come in for Henderson, giving him another match before a crucial fortnight. As far as I am concerned Dirk with his mix of attributes, experience and ‘big game’ reliability should always be involved when we clash with Everton and United.

I’d like to see Coates given time to form a partnership with Carra, and with Kelly at right back and Enrique on the left, we really should keep a clean sheet today. Wolves are a decent, well-organised side, who started the season well, but successive, emphatic home defeats may have dented their confidence, and three points today is a must. Especially given their win here last year.

As for our captain, he may well have to settle for a place on the bench, and will hopefully take part in the second half with another cameo appearance. The last thing we want to do is rush him back and risk injury, as we cannot afford to have him endure another lengthy spell on the sidelines. 

After all, we’ve seen what happens when Gerrard gets injured. Celebrities marry, dictators fall, economies crash, and Currys and Dixons get ransacked. Who knows what political and cultural events could transpire during his next absence?