Man City and Liverpool played out an insipid draw at Eastlands today in a game which failed to ignite.
With both clubs harbouring Champions League potentials we expected a classic encounter, one maybe to match last season’s pulsating Liverpool victory – but the game never really got going and both clubs left with a meagre point.
Liverpool received a pre match boost as two of the reds most attacking players returned to the squad after lengthy lay-off’s – Torres and Benayoun starting on the bench. The reds have performed reasonably well in the Premier League since the turn of the year without these key figures – so it can only be promising that we may have them at our disposal for the final 11 games.
In hindsight, it’s a shame this game came just a little too early for them to have fully recovered.
After a briefly impressive midweek cameo, Ryan Babel was given an(other) opportunity to shine with a starting place – Kuyt occupied the centre-forward role with Rodriguez returning to the right wing.
Aquilani, who was disappointing mid-week, made way for the return of Lucas Leiva. Aurelio also missed out as Insua was recalled to the left back role.
The reds, actually, started brightly. A number of corners saw some decent deliveries from Gerrard but nobody was available to make the most of the advantage.
It was probably at the end of the half when Liverpool’s best chance arrived – Martin Skrtel’s head meeting Gerrard’s cross – but the ball went well wide from 8 yards.
In the second half it was Skrtel who almost let Adebayor in for goal before the Slovakian put in a brilliant tackle to prevent what would have been a great goalscoring chance.
Adebayor had City’s best chance, a powerful shot from outside the box which Reina pushed past the post.
The introductions of Bellamy and later Torres failed to turn this game in to anything more exciting and the only area of interest was how the reds managed to rack up 6 yellow cards. It was a surprising performance from the referee who seemed to have a very two-sided nature to his interpretation of fouls. Torres even managed to get a yellow for what was your bog-standard, and legal, shoulder charge.
The only winners from today’s game were Spurs and Aston Villa – who have now been handed a lifeline and the chase for fourth really is now a four-horse race.
Post Match Comments
Rafa Benitez
“It was difficult. We were working very hard, we had control. I thought we could win, we could lose. Very close. At the end maybe a draw is fair.
As a manager you have to see your team as strong in defence, in attack we have to be a little bit better. Both teams were working hard trying to stop the other.”
I typically boring Liverpool performance where we struggle to score even one goal,…a lack of forward players and creativity surely must even have Gerrard and Torres pondering their future.I hope we don’t finish in the top four as then Benitez whose tactics i’m fed up with will surely be forced to leave together with the duds he’s signed!
Add Aquilani to that list who seems to be another complete waste of money from what i’ve seen of him but i’m sure the editor here has his excuses ready!.
If no one else is affordable i’d much prefer even King Kenny returning to the hot seat.
Imran,
Do you really think that being outspent by 13 other Premier League teams across 4 transfer windows isn’t going to eventually start having an impact on the team?
I’m interested as to why exactly we SHOULD be hammering the likes of Man City?
On what basis? The name and history of our club?
I can expect being defeated by a Man Utd or Chelsea but still have a problem with Benitez for he’s let quality leave then replaced it with complete rubbish!.I won’t make a list because most know the names like a nursery rhyme!
Rafa has had his five years now with the team hardly being any better then it was under Houllier so time to pack up and leave if he’s a man of his word.Another thing is our terroble and negative style of football that is probably the worst in the past thirty years!.I’m with the likes of Ronnie Whelan who wants him out but most will continue backing this Spanish loser until he gets us relegated!
My question to the likes of “Anfield Online” is exactly what does Rafa need to do in order to be sacked??.
Why are we still talking about 4th when it should be 1st or nothing its high time we finished there, we’ve had the squad. The champions league should be just that THECHAMPIONS LEAGUE 1st not 2nd 3rd 4th. I don’t think its fair for other countries CHAMPIONS have to qualify.
Yesterdays game v Man City was RUBBISH Unirea Rubbish. games like Arsenal. Manu and Chelsea took it to them from the off and won, we just played for a draw and lost. On results like these we don’t deserve 4th, i only hope Torres and Gerrard don’t leave BUT if they do it’s 3 peoples fault and we all know who they are.
We are not the Liverpool of the 80’s but then again nor are the other contenders with Money to burn but LFC have had a fair bit of money.
LFC 4 EVER
Would I have taken a point before the game? Yes, of course I would.
Disappointing with Ryan Babel YET again not taking his opportunity. How many games it that now? 120?
For all the money Man City have they were even worse than we were. They didn’t look like they wanted anything out the game.
Positives – definitely seeing Torres and Benayoun coming back. I’d imagine they will be pivotal in the last 11 games.