Time to apply pressure, not just absorb it
It seems like forever since Liverpool last held the blowtorch to an opponent. Yet there's every chance they'll get that opportunity on Wednesday.
Short of a win at Stamford Bridge today, Arsene Wenger and Arsenal will face the prospect of rejoining the fight for Champions League places with City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Aston Villa and perhaps even Everton. If Arsenal do rejoin the fight from their existing privileged third-placed perch, questions would have to be asked about their mental state relative to their fellow contenders.
After all, the character of the other sides is probably more combative than Arsenal's. And Arsenal would be in a defensive, reactive position.
Arsenal also have a manager more prone than most to excuses and emotional outbursts. They have a lineup full of players who blow hot and cold. They struggle to keep clean sheets, so don't often scrape the one-nils of the type Liverpool collected yesterday.
It doesn't smack of grit and resilience.
Perhaps most tellingly of all, Arsenal have a fluid attacking style that hinges on confidence, both their own and that of their opponents. Until recently, confidence had carried them further than they had any right to be.
In all likelihood Wednesday will bring a chance for Liverpool to throw some blows at an Arsenal side bereft of confidence. Arsenal are thought to have something of a glass jaw defensively at the best of times.
But Wednesday would bring a knee-knocking, staggering opponent if Chelsea clean them out today. And a manager under tremendous pressure, who in his own terms would be facing the ultimate failure of a five year project.
If it eventuates, let's hope we see the kind of merciless Liverpool response the occasion begs for. That would be just the tonic for raising our own confidence, and underline the imminent return of business as usual.
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First of all "Well done Rafa". If he can be criticised for the teams performance over the last few months, and unfairly I might add then he can be commended for 7 games without a loss. Also picking up 17 points out of the last 21. Confidence is up especially winning without needing Torres. It should give heart to the rest of the team should he get injured again after he returns. I believe our bad spell is behinds us and this is the charge in the latter part of the season that the club seems to have every season. I think there is a real possibility of us even ending up 3rd come the end of the season. Considering we were in "meltdown" that really would be an achievement.
I concur with Jack's appraisal that Mr. Benitez does indeed deserve praise for the last seven games. Deserving that is, if playing one up front at home, cheating, time wasting and being extremely fortunate with some refereeing decisions, can be considered praise worthy.
To see Liverpool in fourth place is to see cynicism triumph. The most ardent and blinkered reds must surely concede that those above and around them, play football. What Liverpool serve up most certainly is not. Their style, if it can be described as such, is much more in keeping with the performances of Wimbledon FC during the Jones, Fashanu era.
please behave hotspurt
we have witnessed as liverpool fans the worst run of form/performances in decades - please indulge our team a few uninispiring but effective performances whilst they pick themselves up off the floor and dust themselves down from the horrendous 1st half of the season - after all your vast improvement this season still sees you below us.
Remember this is a LFC team that finished 35 pts higher than tottenham last term (it was 30, 8 and 17 pts above spurs in the prev years) - if this is "cynical football" then I apologise, I would certainly prefer it to what the hotspurs have been serving up.
You may think your team is a better footballing side (ha!) , but just look at the table and realise that your boys are just as likely to finish 8th this season as they are 4th (or 3rd, as 'arry suggested this week!)
Thank you DRP for taking the time to respond.
It will be interesting to see how the rest of the season unfurls. I am sure you enjoyed being able to "just look at the table", with any comfort for quite some time. One thing is certain, Tottenham Hotspur are currently a far superior footballing side to Liverpool. Credit to LFC for over achieving last season and profiting this past month from from the inadequacies of a stilldeveloping Spurs.
Please remember, this is Harry Redknapp's first full season in charge. It is no use either of us reflecting upon past glories or failures, as I am sure any Manchester United would be both willing and justified in pointing out. I have to admit that they manage to combine style with substance and consistency. The latter is proving to be elusive for THFC; for now.
Personally I am hoping for a third place finish and an FA cup win. If that happens, I will be delighted with the progress of the last year. Again a Man U supporter would see it as a poor season.
Speaking of progress; do any Liverpool supporters honestly believe that there has been any at Anfield this season? Rather the opposite I would suggest.
Hotspur - Everton should have had a straight red early on so how were we lucky? Do you really think your gonna be up there with the likes of Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City? It must be really irritating to know that LFC are having a terrible season by their own standards but are are still above you. Of course we don't deem this season as progress. We keep a grip on reality unlike yourself thinking you can rub shoulders with the big boys. You guys are upstarts who won't even make 5th position. To say you might make 3rd is tragic. Deluded does not even begin to describe you. Anyway I want to see how long you keep your beloved Rednapp when you dont make CL anytime soon. The man has a history of jumping ship or being pushed due to dodgey deals.
Jack
How amusing that you mention Liverpool as being in some way on a level with Manchester united and Chelsea. Now that really is self delusion. Liverpool are not even on at the same level as Arsenal. Please believe me, I say that with no malice toward you or other LFC supporters. I have no wish to fete the graceless Mr. Wenger. But admit rather grudgingly that his team are capable of football which is very pleasing on the eye. That is of course to those who view the game without parochial blinkers.
Liverpool under Rafael Benitez when doing well are at best pragmatic. However, recent events have seen a change in fortunes brought about by the 'qualities' mentioned in my original comments
It really is a shame that you feel it necessary to resort to using such terms as "upstarts" and making accusations of criminal behaviour.
You have displayed an attitude which typifies many Liverpool followers. One of living in the past. Imagining your team to be amongst 'the big boys' is frankly laughable. Stangely you include Manchester City within this imaginary group. Clearly the so called big four no longer exists. The big two are pursued realistically by Spurs, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City. Roughly in that order. It would be no surprise to those who follow football objectively if that is how they finish this season.
I would be interested to hear your and others honest view on the manner in which Liverpool gained three points in the recent game against Spurs at Anfield.
Hotspur 1882
have you still not learned your lesson? All these years of pretty football without substance, followed by the inevitable mid table mediocrity and you feel being 5th and under a Liverpool side which is having a very poor season is the correct time to act magnanimous in the presentation of your argument!
And yes, you're probably right at present Tottenham Hotspur are currently a far superior footballing side to Liverpool(we will improve). However, that does not in no stretch of the imagination make you a better side than Liverpool! Liverpool have better first eleven than Spurs all over the park even if we lack the numbers. This is true both now and historically. How many Spurs player would get in the Liverpool first 11? Lennon! That's it!!!
Not sure about your quote "Credit to LFC for over achieving last season and profiting this past month from from the inadequacies of a still developing Spurs"!!! My blinkered and obviously giddy friend Harry Redknapp has one F.A Cup Final win to his name in around 30 years of management playing the same brand of football (pretty but pot-less). What makes you think that Portsmouth...sorry I mean Spurs will suddenly make the jump to a top 4 side with Redknapp? Redknapp is a checkbook manager and when he fails to achieve at Spurs and empty's the coffer in the process you'll be in the same place you've occupied for the last 40+ years! MIDTABLE!!!
In nearly two seasons Spurs spent £119.3million in the financial year, with another £29.4 million invested since on Peter Crouch, Sebastien Bassong, Niko Kranjcar, Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker. Outspending the real top 4 by someway.
Liverpool have poor owners and have plateaued due to a lack of investment. However, in Benitez we have a manager with a proven record (Substance).
Extremadura
* Segunda División
o Promotion:(1): 1997–98
Tenerife
* Segunda División
o Promotion (1): 2000–01
Valencia
* La Liga
o Winner (2): 2001–02, 2003–04
* UEFA Cup
o Winner (1): 2003–04
Liverpool
* UEFA Champions League
o Winner (1): 2004–05
* FA Cup
o Winner (1): 2005–06
* UEFA Super Cup
o Winner (1): 2005
* FA Community Shield
o Winner (1): 2006
Runner-up : Carling Cup (2005), European Cup (2007), Premier League (2009)
Individual awards
* Don Balón Award
o Winner (1): 2001-02
* UEFA Manager of the Year
o Winner (2): 2003–04, 2004–05
In Liverpool's 5 years under Benitez we have finished 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd and hopefully this year 3rd again! Yes we have plateaued a little and itis a little disappointing but yourself, Andy Grey, Sky and the London media mafia are blowing the whole poor season thing out of proportion.
Liverpool's poor season is finishing outside the top 4 whilst Spurs poor season is in the bottom 4! The club's are at different ends of the football ladder which is as strong today as it has been for the last 40 years!
Histrionically and globally (If not financially) we are the biggest club in Britain and the big 2 have always been and will always be United and Liverpool.
You say your hoping for a third place finish and an FA cup win!!! Ye you and about 5 other teams. Don't hold your breath.
And you're right as a Liverpool supporters I don't believe there's been any progress at Anfield this season. But I don't think it's as bad a you and the media are making out.
You have a cloaked admiration for Manchester United but remember. In 1989 – 90 season following an early season run of six defeats and two draws in eight games, a banner declaring "Three years of excuses and it's still crap. Ta ra Fergie." was displayed at Old Trafford, and many journalists and supporters called for Ferguson to be sacked.
Following a run of seven games without a win, Manchester United were drawn away to Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA Cup. Forest were performing well in the League that season, and it was expected that United would lose the match and Ferguson would consequently be sacked, but United won the game 1–0 thanks to a Mark Robins goal and eventually reached the final. This cup win is often cited as the match that saved Ferguson's Old Trafford career. United went on to win the FA Cup, beating Crystal Palace 1–0 in the final replay after a 3–3 draw in the first match, giving Ferguson his first major trophy as Manchester United manager.
It took Fergie 6 years to win anything and if United would have pulled the trigger and sacked him at that point then who knows were Manchester United would have been.
The point I'm trying to make is Benitez's contribution to Liverpool in his first 5 years has been nothing short of sensational taking into account the board room problems the club finds itself at present. If we have one year when the progress is not tangible and can't be positively measured then I can live with that! Normal services will be resumed next season and with the big investment promised in the summer who knows were it'll take us.
As for Spurs! Well, would you bet against mid-table mediocrity? I know I wouldn't.
When Benitez was at Valencia he created a side which was quite frankly was the best side to grace Anfield in my time following the club.
Commuted, hard working, strong in attack and defense and tactically aware. The football they played was a joy to watch and the two times we played them at home (Champions League and friendly) they humbled Liverpool emphatically! Don't let the 1-0 scorelines deflect how out of site Liverpool were beaten. Valencia on both occasions were given a standing ovation by Liverpool fans at the end of the game. This is why Benitez was given the managers job.
Last year Liverpool were very unlucky not to win the league and played football with a quality, style and substance against top quality opposition of which Spurs can only dream about. In the summer transfer window of 2009 Liverpool should have splashed the cash and added quality to replace Hyypia, Arbelo and Alonso and added greater depth to the squad. Due to poor ownership and a lack of funds available we only added Glenn Johnson at right back. These are reasons for the plateau.
The manner in which Liverpool gained three points in the recent game against Spurs at Anfield was through the traits that Spurs team lack an are inbuilt in Benitez's football side (see above) ! Hard work, strong defensively and tactical awareness. Spurs never created anything and were stopped from playing! Don't worry much better sides than Spurs have been beaten like this.
you're not special at all!!!
Raf
Thank you for your excellent and I have to say, comprehensive reply.
Although, as I am sure you would expect I cannot agree with all of your comments. To clarify my position regarding the Liverpool manager; I do not dispute that in the past his tactics have at times resulted in good runs trophies. But this has generally but not always been due to tactics which are perhaps effective, but ugly. But as I said earlier, past glories do not reflect the present. It has been a few years since Liverpool have won anything and many since they won the title. That's coming from one who has waited since 1961!
I beg to differ on who's players would get into the others team. I expect that would depend largely upon the manager and how he would deploy them. On paper though Spurs have most of the better players. I suppose that illustrates that we are discussing a game of opinions.
Re: Man U - my admiration is not cloaked. I openly admire them as easily the best team in the Prem, since its inception. Gaining results mainly by playing excellent, entertaining football.
Thanks again for your comments. Mid table? I certainly hope not. But as someone(?) once said, "It's a funny old game!"
absolute madness - you can have your superior "footballing" side ("on paper" ha!) - i prefer our on-the-pitch superiority, to be honest...
i can't guarantee we'll finish 4th+ and there'll definitely be twists and turns for sure before May (our next 2 fixtures will surely mean dropped points), but the mis-placed cockiness/superiority-complex from spurs this season is bizarre