Stevie G Targets an Immediate Revival

Friendlies
St Gallen 0-0 Away
Rapid Vienna 0-1 Away
Thailand 0-0 Away
Singapore 5-0 Away
Espanyol 0-3 Away
FC Lyn 2-0 Away
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Away

Premiership
Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Away
Stoke City 4-0 Home
Aston Villa 1-3 Home
Bolton Wanderers 3-2 Away
Burnley 4-0 Home
West Ham United 3-2 Away
Hull City 6-1 Home
Chelsea 0-2 Away
Sunderland 0-1 Away
Manchester United 2-0 Home
Fulham 1-3 Away
Birmingham City 2-2 Home
Manchester City 2-2 Home

Champions League
Debrecan 1-0 Home
Fiorentina 0-2 Away
Lyon 1-2 Home
Lyon 1-1 Away
Carling Cup
Leeds United 1-0 Away
Arsenal 1-2 Away

I have included the pre season friendlies in the above table because I was one of those supporters that dismissed the remarks that some journalists and supporters alike were making. I had watched all of the games and I must admit watching some of the performances I had my doubts about the coming season but dismissed them on the grounds that the players were not yet match fit. We also had some of our key players missing along with the saga of Alonso's future still hanging over the club. Also what appears to now be a jinx that is haunting the club had begun and several of our players returned home from the tour injured which unfortunately hampered our start to the new season!

As the season began there was optimism in the Liverpool camp. We had reached the dizzy heights of second place and our points tally at 86 was the highest that we had gained whilst in the premier league. It was wildly expected that Liverpool Football Club would this season be a major challenger for the Premiership title.

Unfortunately our opening game against Tottenham was to prove a pre curser to the rest of the season. We lost the game 2-1. Our poor defensive play had already got people talking. One game in and the television pundits and other members of the media were asking if Liverpool were really title challengers. This was of course dismissed by
Rafa Benitez who basically blamed it on the fact the players were not fully match fit. Like every Liverpool supporter, I watched and waited as the weeks began to go by. Our results were not really improving and we began to lose the games that we should have won. The last two games have also been draws. The first of these we were losing until Ngog did what no Liverpool player should do and cheated. The second was yesterday's game against Manchester City. This was a pretty bland game that ended in a 2-2 draw, with neither team really having the push to go on and win the game. We have also had two meaningless international breaks which have not helped matters on the pitch as they resulted in injuries to our key players.

These results are not what Liverpool should be having or expect to be having. Our Champions League results are no better and we are now in the position where we might well go out in the next few weeks and end up playing in the Europa League.

Throughout our history and particularly since that wonderful day in 1959 when Bill Shankly walked through the doors of Anfield for the first time, we have had the winning mentality. It is something that was instilled in the players then and I presume has continued until the present day. But has it I wonder? You watch the players today and there does not seem to be the same urgency on the pitch. Apart from the Manchester United game, which for some reason bought out the best in the players, they start to play knowing that all they have to do is run around whilst the ninety minutes ticks down.

We have had our share of injuries, some of which were picked up during the international breaks, namely to Torres and Stevie G but with a team as good as Liverpool should be, replacements should be ready and able to step into their shoes. Unfortunately this has not happened and although Jamie does a good job as vice captain without Stevie holding the team together they go to pieces and any momentum that has been built up is lost.

On the scoring side, although there are eleven players to a team, the manager and the rest of the squad appear to be afraid of the net and if Stevie and Torres are not playing, we tend to loose, although Benayoun has come to our rescue many times, so credit where credit is due. He proved it again yesterday, after coming on early to replace the injured Babel.

Now to what is turning out to be a major problem for the team, although for some reason, Rafa Benitez does seem to realise how urgently a solution is required. Our defence is deplorable and I hate to say it, but I often wonder if the manager and his staff really care. We have had this problem now for several seasons and apart from the obvious injuries and lack of hitting the back of the net, it is the one thing that is holding the team back. It is and will be a major talking point from all areas of the media as well as the supporters. Zonal Marking- When is Rafa going to realise that not only is it not working, it is not suited to the English game. Man to man marking is the only thing that will stop the opposition scoring goals. Each player must be responsible for a member of the opposition. We have seen instances in games where Stevie is man marked by the opposition to stop him getting through the middle and scoring. Every time this happens, it should be a lesson for Rafa Benitez. If teams such as Chelsea can do this - so can we. Until it happens, I am sorry but I simply cannot see our results improving.

Our injuries are another major problem - We have a team that is supposed to be fully fit. I accept that some of these injuries do take place on the pitch but I have said it many times now - What do they do in training - surely part of the daily programme of exercises and ball work is to ensure that their muscles are in a good condition and able to take all the twists and turns that a fast football game will produce. There are far too many instances of hamstrings going too easily. Because of the situation that the team now finds itself in, we have players being rushed back too quickly. Riera was allowed to play to early a couple of weeks ago - he is now out for a further period. It has also got to the point where the players are going to Belgrade for a so called miracle cure although I must admit going by Benayoun yesterday it appears to have worked.

Will we get the revival that Stevie wants, I sincerely hope so. He is the captain and I am sure he knows how to impress upon the rest of the team how important it is for our results to improve. The big question of course is, will they listen. There seems to be far too many of them who do not understand what wearing the red shirt of Liverpool means. It must be impressed upon them that every part of their play must improve. We must now win every game and silence our critics. We have had too many false starts this season and now languish in seventh place in the league. The last time that happened was in the dying days of the Gerard Houiller reign and he was soon shown the door.

If the revival does happen, it may also silence the supporters who are now calling for Rafa Benitez to leave. I will admit to be sitting on the fence over this at the moment. I honestly cannot make up mind whether it would be good for the club to change personnel at the moment or wait and see what the outcome of the season is. The one thing I do know is that Rafa Benitez seems bereft of ideas at the moment and is being equally stubborn in the fact that he cannot see where changes need to be made.

I honestly hope that in January, I can turn around and say, Thanks Stevie you have again proved what a great captain you are, the revival you promised has taken place, the results have improved and our future is not looking as precarious as it did.