Liverpool FC must put an end to the costly errors
LIVERPOOL are prolific scorers at home and Manchester City have plenty of attacking options, so you might anticipate a goal-fest this lunchtime.
The one thing Rafa Benitez will want to see this afternoon, though, more than anything else is Liverpool keep a clean sheet; after all, the reason we find ourselves way off the pace in the Premier League has been down to poor defending.
Too many cheap goals have been given away over the past month - the one which comes to mind straight away is Birmingham's first in that 2-2 draw - and the way we have gone about our business has been nothing like what we have come to expect.
Should we maintain those standards, City have the tools to take full advantage and from their point of view, they will be looking to take over ourselves and Arsenal and get established in the top four this season.
Money is no object for Mark Hughes now he has the backing of Arab billionaires and we saw last season that City are a more than capable side; our two games against them last season were particularly hard fought and they deserved a point at Anfield.
But what City do for the rest of the season is not our prime concern; first and foremost, Liverpool have got to get back on track as quickly as possible and our first objective has got to make sure we secure a top four place once more.
Champions League football is vital to Liverpool and with so much uncertainty about our place in this season's competition, we can't afford to run the risk of jeopardising our hopes of being involved in that tournament any further.
So how does Rafa keep City quiet? With Fernando Torres unlikely to play, it might be an idea to play three central defenders again and have Glen Johnson patrolling the right-side of midfield, though that remains to be seen.
Whatever side he selects, though, the aim has got to be the same and that is to grind a win out. Of course, it would be to see three points achieved with style and swagger but, right now, a scruffy 1-0 win might be even better.
Don't just lie back and think of Italy
THERE were only a couple of times during my career when I played in a game but my mind was on the outcome of a result elsewhere.
One was whenIreland were trying to qualify for the 1994 World Cup and we were waiting to discover how Spain got on, while the other was in 1986 when I was playing for Oxford against Everton and Liverpool were playing Leicester - say no more!
On Tuesday night every Red will be more concerned about the score between Fiorentina and Lyon than our game in Debreceni but there's no chance Rafa Benitez will be so preoccupied.
He will demand we get all three points in Hungary and if that sets up a last game showdown with Fiorentina, all well and good.
* THE storm over Thierry Henry's handball shows no sign of relenting and I'm still dismayed that Ireland are out of the World Cup.
If there is one consolation we can take, it is the fact we played so well in qualifying and Giovanni Trapattoni and has proven he is one of the best coaches around. Ireland are moving in the right direction once again.
Older/Newer
« Latest Liverpool FC news from the Daily Post | Latest LFC news from the Liverpool ECHO »
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Liverpool FC must put an end to the costly errors. TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.liverpoolbanter.co.uk/cgi-bin/mt421/mt-tb.cgi/166956
I wonder if when we bought Glen Johnson and focused on becoming more attacking with attacking full backs, its left our defence far too vulnerable? Especially with Alonso gone - we could rely on him to hold the ball and link up play.
How about this: Go back to the defensive play of last season, Play Gerrard in the Alonso role - surely he has as much vision! And play Benayoun and eventually Aquilani in Gerrard's role!
We certainly need more from Riera and Babel!
Why not use Spearing and Kelly more?
2 things Liverpool gonna have to look at sooner rather than later - Finding replacements for players - Gerrard, Carra, Benayoun, Aurelio (tho Fabio gets injured too often)
This season, cos of the massive ongoing disruption caused by the so many injuries, and the folly of not having a big enough squad by far, has to be a write off as far as trophies are concerned and if the disruption goes on we may struggle to qualify for the Europa League! Unless maybe we get in 3 or 4 players in January