Home form is so vital
A quick look back at some of our home results emphasises why a title challenge failed to materialise last season. Birmingham City, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Wigan all came away from Anfield with a draw - that's eight points dropped in what many would consider "home bankers" in a season that saw us finish 11 points off the top. Therefore, it was absolutely vital we got our home campaign off to a winning start against a Boro side who will surprise a few people this season, and what a way to clinch it!
We can only hope that those barnstorming last 4 minutes or so can act as a catalyst, as there's little doubt the Reds aren't firing on all cylinders at the moment. In fact, we're hardly out of neutral, yet we sit proudly on top of the table with 6 points from our first 2 games.
Just as at Sunderland last week, we lacked fluency for large parts of the game and there was a distinct lack of width. However, what distinguishes the top sides from the rest is their match-winners. How many times has Ronaldo bailed United out? How many times did Thierry Henry turn a game in Arsenal's favour? Torres was the hero last week on Wearside, and this time it was Steven Gerrard's turn, producing an absolute rocket with virtually the last kick of the game to send Anfield bananas after admittedly not having his best game in a red shirt. Credit must also go to the ever reliable Jamie Carragher, whose deflected shot stunned Boro after he'd benefited from Mike Riley's decision to play on despite a blatant hand-ball; the perennially-inept official's only decent decision all afternoon! Carra was then the hero at the other end, producing a trade-mark last-ditch block to deny Boro a certain goal with Pepe Reina stranded, minutes before his fellow Scouser snatched the points, triggering the kind of delirium usually reserved for our bitterest of foes or crack European opponents.
There's little doubt Liverpool need to play better if we are to finally mount a credible title challenge, but there's little doubt this side is capable of so much more. A permanent conclusion to the summer-long Barry/Alonso soap opera can only benefit all concerned, while the return of Javier Mascherano will undoubtedly reinforce the defensive solidity that was lacking at times against Boro. Hopefully the return of Ryan Babel will solve some of the problems on the flanks, while Nabil El Zahr's encouraging cameo will have given Rafa food for thought. The little Moroccan has been written off already in some quarters, but his willingness to run at defenders and get crosses in was something we lacked prior to his arrival. As for Torres and Keane, when they finally do click that can only spell bad news for defences up and down the country. The Irishman needs a goal but he's too good a player not to find form.
It's been a far from perfect start, but the record books show we've got maximum points from our first two games. With United facing a tricky trip to Portsmouth then not having a game next weekend due to the European Super Cup, it gives us the chance to build a bit of a gap before they come to Anfield in three weeks' time. I just hope a certain Gareth Barry doesn't come back to haunt us at Villa Park next Sunday in the same way Dean Saunders did in 1992.
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Home form is so vital. TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.liverpoolbanter.co.uk/cgi-bin/mt421/mt-tb.cgi/21981
Hey mate,
Nice article, home form really is important.
Cheers :)