A fortunate intervention

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It was a typical David Ngog goal which secured Liverpool FC a wispy 1:0 win in the Europe League clash against Unirea Urziceni on Thursday evening. A victory at home and a clean sheet are nice, albeit they weren’t achieved in a typical Liverpool style we got used to.

David Ngog has this ability to score goals out of nothing, in moments of great chaos and gallimaufry.Those goals often aren’t pretty but they are important and, in matches like the last one, the prettiness doesn’t care. We just want to see the ball in the net!

Once again David Ngog made a totally unexpected intervention and didn’t fail. Till that moment more disappointment in Europe had seemed the most likely outcome and the teams performance wasn’t getting better at all. For whatever reason … In fact, there might be a few.

With no Champions League theme tune to serenade them before the game, an unfamiliar Thursday evening kick-off, an extra pair of match officials and the potentially demoralising psychological effect of knowing that this was not the place they wanted to be, there were genuine fears that Liverpool would suffer a collective hangover. This could be only one reason but maybe it’s the biggest one. Well then? Let’s just accept this and rock the pitch! That’s what ought to happen but – with all respect – didn’t at all.

The players kept on making simple and stupid (!) mistakes which weren’t expected, especially against a team like Unirea. And then there was this … motionlessness. Dirk Kuyt was the only one – again – who was moving, trying and running … for life. Like he was the only who really cares about a (possibly) win. (?!) The others … Well … Stevie was where he was needed, and his despair and desire to win was more than apparent.

“Unirea were very stubborn tonight,” he said after the match.

Hmm… I think they weren’t only stubborn. They were better organised, they were concentrated, they were … everywhere! The white players stuck to the red ones as if they were glued! And, for whatever reason, our lads weren’t able to run away from them.

So what was wrong? Motivation was not an issue. Quality, or more accurately the lack of it, occasionally was, however. Even against opponents of such limited pedigree, there were times when Liverpool’s lack of a cutting edge in attacking areas, a problem that has plagued them throughout the season, resulted in promising moves breaking down just as it seemed that they would result in something tangible.

There was nothing glamorous or easy on the eye about Liverpool’s display, but at least they got the job done and succeeded. Though, till the 81 minute I got so angry about the lack of quality, motivation and the numerous mistakes, that I could not really enjoy the goal and the victory, respectively.  I still can’t.

Let’s give our lads another try then. Next week in Romania.

YNWA

-Amanda

amanda@empireofthekop.com

More Stories David Ngog Europe League Unirea Urziceni

10 Comments

  1. Sorry but have to say this. Did you actually watch the game? All I seem to have seen last night was Liverpool in the there half, losing the ball trying to get into the box. Our defending was ok, and you are always going to have holes when you are pushing foward so much, as long as whoever stays back reads the counter attack. restrict the good chances and force them into a long shot, run the ball out or a harmless cross.

  2. I would like to add (I had not finished the above).

    Yes they were organised, but you have to be when you have to soak up attack after attack (Liverpool’s 10 men against the Toffee’s for example). Fear not though, now we have a 1 goal lead they will have to come out after us, and hopefully that will mean more space for Liverpool to attack into.

    Football is a funny game, remember that!

    YNWA

  3. Yes, I dis watch the game. Of course I did. And I listened to the commentzries as well. Did you? This is not only my opinion. Read the newspaper, listen to radio and you will hear it too.And it laso wasn’t the first time where our defending was really bad. We were lucky yesterday.
    Unirea had two chances could have turnded into a goal. Waht do you say about that?
    Hough I am a fan I can’t always be noncritical. I always try to see the positives (read my other post) but this time there werre simply to many mistakes.
    This time I allowed myslef to criticise.

    And yes, football is a funny game. And what is even more funny about that? – everyxone sees something different even watching the same match.

    YNWA

  4. You obviously didn’t watch the ame last night and read the reports on the Internet and in the papers. Our defence was good N’gog was shocking and I hope Benitez realises although him and Babel have had their differences he’s still the better option. Also I’m normally full of praise for Kuyt but last night he was dissapointing. Well played game sick of people makin out we struggled. We battered them left right and centre just nothing up from once again. Dani and Babel to start tomorrow I reckon.

    Y.N.W.A

  5. Sorry yes I do mean Sunday. I do respect your opinion as everyone has the right to express their opinion. Just seems like alot of poeple are taking into account what “so-called” pundits are actually saying about Liverpool. Look at someone like Paul Merson (a toothless smackhead) at every point will put Liverpool down. His half term report was outrageous, respects Everton being in the bottom half because they’ve been unlucky, but called Liverpool lucky to be were they are? (what about our injuries this year!)

    Nothing gets mentioned about that, all negative: Rafa has to go, Gerrards leaving, terrible performances.

    I know the result wasn’t convincing on paper, but the performance was, the team played as just that, a team. And thats been lacking (admitidly of late the spirits been there), there was conviction in our play, but nothing passed midfield could be done. Gerrard looks like he’s got the weight of the world on his shoulders, and he does from most people. He’s got to save Liverpool and if he doesn’t he’ll get bashed to bits in the papers!

    I hope we can concentrate on getting Torres back and letting him run riot up front again, but think thats our biggest issue, we need more up front, can’t rely on Torres to play a few games and then off. I wish he’d take a leaf out of Jamies book and take the summer off and get his groin sorted.

  6. Was a very typical game for us. Dominating possession and much of the play, and our efforts breaking down just outside or inside the penalty area. When teams defend this way you cannot repeat your attacking options over and over again, because the more they keep you out, the more confident they become. There was an attempt to switch Riera and Kuyt from left to right in the first half that did not have much effect, and Ngog is as light as a feather and rarely wins a one-on-one. He scores, but only when he manages to free himself of his marker. A very average game for the Reds in my view, with Mascherano again superlative in the holding role. Babel gave impetus to our game and a higher tempo, Pacheco was eventually the jolly we needed. Won’t be easy in Bucharest but the Reds should make it to the next round.

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