Gutsy display gives the Reds deserved victory over dirty Everton: Portsmouth loss the catalyst to new found form.
There's going to be a lot of analysis about Liverpool's excellent win over Everton on Saturday with the main focus on the Reds grit and determination, even when they were down to ten men. Everton just couldn't cope and resorted to tackles that should have brought them at least two red cards earlier in the game before Pienaar was eventually, and justifiably, sent off.
It was an enthralling match with few goal scoring chances, the highlights being Gerrard's terrific free-kick from just outside the box that hit the cross-bar with Howard well beaten and Dirk Kuyt's close range, match winning, header from a perfect Gerrard corner kick. Kuyt deserves a lot a credit for his positioning and persistence on that one. Fortunately, Cahill missed a glorious opportunity to put Everton ahead at the end of the 1st half although, looking at the replay, Reina may well have had it covered.
The big controversy's of course were the sending off's, or should I say the lack of them.
Pienaar should have been off the pitch for his dreadful challenge on Mascherano, he could have broken his leg, and Fellaini not Kyrgiakos should have been shown the red card for his stamp on Kyrgiakos's ankle which later required several stitches. In reality Fellaini should have been sent off even earlier for kicking Kuyt in the face while he was down after another dirty Everton tackle. Both of these players were a disgrace and further illustrated Everton's desperation throughout the game.
The fact is Liverpool have now gone undefeated in their last 7 games, with only 1 goal conceded and 4 clean sheets. It's an impressive recovery that sees them lying in fourth place and within 5 points of Arsenal, albeit having played an extra game. A good result on Wednesday will have me thinking that maybe a top 3 place is not altogether out of reach.
I must say, more than anything, Benitez's recent announcement that Liverpool where going to play more attacking football was significant news. Benitez's cautious approach is one of the things that continues to frustrate me about him and only when it's 'backs-to-the-wall' does he take the shackles off the team. This is exactly what happened last season after the Middlesborough defeat and it almost won us the league. This season it was the loss to Portsmouth that forced him to alter his approach and we are now seeing the results. This new found form also gives me greater optimism about our chances in the Europa Cup.
It's a pity Kyrgiakos wont be available for Wednesday's game, as he has been exceptional recently, but if Liverpool show the same dogged determination as they did today we have every reason to be optimistic.
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as a man utd fan, this is not the game i saw. ok you were the better team just but all the bad tackles originally came from the players in red, carragher, mascherano, gerrard even lucas got away with a bad one. also i recall liverpool players falling to the floor arms in the air looking for free kicks on about 6 occasions. so does rafa tell the players to dive? probably.
by the way howard had gerrards kick covered but i dont think reina would have got to cahills header. what colour glasses did you watch with??? hmmm let me guess
Cahill was offside ..... Idont remember anyone in Red kicking anyone in the head .......
Mike, there were bad tackles on both sides of the game. Get over it. I think that the point is that if Kyrgiakos got a red, Fellini should have too. Even the comms were outraged that he didn't even get a yellow.
I'm really happy that we've been pulling ahead, we just need to remember that Man City has two games in hand, and we've got Arsenal next, without Fernando and Yossi. But I actually think that we'll pull it out. We can do this!
How could Cahill be offside, Mascherano headed it to him. Typical biased liverpool fan who doesnt know the rules. Both sides commited bad fouls from Carraghers in the 1st minute to Gerrards terrible reaction to Pienaar standing by him although Pienaar should have been sent off earlier Gerrard holding his head after NOT being touched was his usual cheating seen many times before. But thats the differeance between the 2 sets of fans Everton admit it Liverpool beleive they did nothing wrong
Another disgraceful performance of thuggery from Liverpool from the first minute onwards. Carrying on from where they left off against Spurs.
For Everton, the Belgian with the toilet brush haircut came out with no credit.
Perhaps one day Gerrard will remember he is english and stop the horrible simulation.