All the talk before the game was of a manager under pressure and a planned Show of Support organised by the Spirit of Shankly supporters’ union. From as earlier as 6PM, supporters gathered at the ground in a display of unity and support for both the manager and the team. This support was evident inside the groung right from kick-off and the team appeared to pick up on it immediately with Dirk Kuyt firing us ahead on 6 minutes. There then followed 84 minutes in which we knocked on the door several times but that crucial second goal just would not come.
Tottenham, who have now gone 66 games away against the ‘Big Four’ without winning, had the lions’ share of possession but failed to trouble Reina throughout the 90 minutes. It is a tale, all too familiar to Liverpool fans, good possession but lacking in any real cutting edge. Right up until Kuyt’s second by way of a retaken penalty, there was always the chance of Liverpool being sucker-punched, just as had happened at the Britannia Stadium four days earlier.
On paper, this Liverpool team is worth a staggering £50 million approx LESS than Tottenham (thanks to Paul Tomkins for these figures), yet sit just 1 point behind them in the Premier League. Ultimately, this statistic is meaningless, but it is worth bearing in mind when contrasting the expectations placed on the respective managers and teams!
Over the last few months, we have been in this position, having beaten a major rival only for it to blow up in our faces in the very next game. The difference now is that, despite what you may think, Liverpool lie 3rd in the current form table having taken 13 from the last 18 points, only Arsenal have taken more.
Our next game is away to Wolves next Tuesday. Wolves have lost their last 3 league games. We cannot afford to take the points for granted and we must play with the same level of intensity and passion as we have in our last 2 games. We need to prolong Wolves agony and we must follow last nights superb victory with another 3 points. It is vital we continue this run of form and build the momentum that has been lacking for most of this season.
The race for 4th (and higher) is back on…..
YNWA
Julian.
julian@empireofthekop.com
Top post mate!!
Well said, Julian. I was really impressed with the desire and intensity shown last night and at Stoke. And as you said, there’s no time for complacency against Wolves. In Rafa we trust.
– gwto
Love this post..Makes me feel, I am NOT alone. Cheers all you LiverPudlians.. Y.N.W.A
On wards and Up Wards is how I feel. What about You??
I still don’t know how they spend that money on players (can’t even imagine their wage bill) and still make a profit with a stadium smaller than ours and a fan base much smaller than ours! lol
“failed to trouble Reina throughout the 90 minutes”
I take it you watched (very) selective highlights as the rest of us saw 2 much-needed saves from Pepe, not to mention the dubiously disallowed goal.
Its all well and good calling people who have given up on Benitez but theres also people like yourself who see everything through Rafa red tinted glasses and its pathetic.
@ Jimbo (on the off chance you happen to come back to this post)
The phrase you have have picked up on was written with a touch of hyperbole in mind, but I will concede that it is impossible to take this from its content. I should have included the word “practically” before “failed”.
As you asked, I watched the entire 90 minutes live and I recall the two saves you mention. However for a team that cost £50m more to assemble than Liverpool, I would have expected Pepe to have been busier. At the time, I thought the goal was disallowed quite harshly, but it is all down to interpretation. Defoe becomes active as soon as he starts to close Krygiakos down. This occurs before he touches the ball so there is no 2nd phase. The goal is therefore, and rightly, disallowed, thankfully.
Finally, I think your use of the word pathetic is quite harsh. If supporting our team AND manager is pathetic, then fine, but you will soon see there are an awful lot of ‘pathetic’ people out there! I have never and will never say Rafa is perfect but regardless of any mistakes he makes, true to the Liverpool Way I will support him until the board decides it is time for a change. When that happens, and hopefully not any time soon, I will support the new manager in the same way.
YNWA