MATCH REPORT
Liverpool’s pre-season schedule took them to Turkey for a much tougher fixture in the build up to the new season. Turkey don’t do friendlies and this would be a good test for Liverpool as they move ever closer to the new season. Liverpool have fond memories of Istanbul and tonight they would face one of their heroes from that memorable night in the shape of Milan Baros.
Kenny opted for a very young looking side with Flanagan, Kelly, Robinson and Shelvey starting the match complimented by more experience with Cole and Poulsen and Kyrgiakos acting as captain for the night. Andy Carroll starting up front in his build up to match fitness with newly returned Insua and Degen also starting alongside new signing Doni keeping goal.
THE MATCH
No friendly atmosphere for Liverpool inside the Turk Telekom Arena which I’m sure came as no surprise to the Reds as this new stadium opened in January is in the Guinness Book of World Records for generating the loudest noise at a sports stadium.
Galatasaray fired up by their passionate support almost scored inside the first minute as former Red Baros stabbed a shot just wide of Doni’s post. Moments later Turan looped a header just wide of target as Liverpool were under intense pressure from the off.
It was no surprise that Galatasaray took the lead on 8 minutes when Baros slammed home a low cross from the right with Liverpool’s defence all over the place. With the hosts totally dominant and Liverpool trying to keep the score at 1-0 they could only muster a wayward long range effort from Carroll as an attacking threat.
Doni then had to make a good save from a Baros header as the home side continued to threaten. Then on 36 minutes Kelly missed a glorious chance from 6 yards out after a good header by Kyrgiakos, the linesman’s flag spared his blushes.
Doni had to make another good stop turning a Turan shot round the post. But Doni was helpless as Baros made it 2-0 four minutes before the break when he headed in at the back post after a near post flick from a corner. It was just what the home side deserved from their dominant display. Shelvey was unlucky with a long range effort as the half ended.
Dalglish rang the changes at half-time bringing on Jones, Kuyt and Aqualani and Liverpool responded with a better start to the second half with Carroll having a headed effort saved by Ceylan. Aqualani was unlucky with his shot being well saved by Ceylan after good work from Kuyt down the right.
Liverpool probed throughout the second half without looking threatening as Galatasaray’s pace dropped from the first half. Galatasaray capped off a fine win when former Bolton striker Elmander volleyed a stunning goal from the edge of the box with four minutes to go.
SUMMARY
The team selected for this match had me worried and my fears were realised inside ten minutes of the match. I can’t criticise Dalglish for giving everybody in the squad a chance to prove themselves this pre-season, but with only a couple more fixtures to go until the season starts I think he should be playing his first team and getting those players match fit. The likes of Degen, Insua and Poulsen are just not good enough unless he was using them in a shop window last night, but I think any customers would be put of with that showing. Never mind its only a friendly and I am sure Kenny will get it right when the season starts and we will see a different team on Monday night in Norway.
Man of the Match – Kuyt – made a big difference in the second half as he tried to lift the side and created a few chances. Such an important player for us.
written by Jamie McLaughlin website at www.anfieldnews.com
This was mainly a team of backups and last chancers, or course they’re going to struggle. that doesn’t mean that some of these players can’t do a job for us when playing along side our 1st choice players.
Spearing covered well for Stevie
Flano for Johnson & Kelly
I also think Shelvy, Robiinson will do a job for us if asked.
My real worry is if Pepe get injured, That whats keeping up at night. Again both keepers played with 2nd choice defence, but still worried.
I think people being too harsh with Insúa, he is a good Left-Back, who played in the middle last night,wich was not his position. He did very well in his last season for LFC. Hodgson had to loan him to bring Konchesky.
He actually played left back last night with Robinson ahead of him. He didn’t tuck in for the first goal (mind you Robinson didn’t cover for him either). His real problem is a lack of pace. He is alright going forward and is a good crosser. But we need better IMO.
I personally would not have allowed Poulson or Degen on the pitch they will not play once the season starts and even if either make the bench that for me is simply criminal as they will hurt us more than help us, as for the shop window well as you say clubs may well run a mile now rather than take up any potential transfer option.
Dirk and Aquilani were by far head and shoulders better than the rest of the side, I have my concerns about Carrol but am willing to give the lad much needed space to show his stuff, the same applies to Cole if he is in the managers plans then I will support him. I thought Kelly was all over the place in the middle which was a surprise as I actually thought he would be more suited there maybe a better organiser would sort that out as they lad has talent in abundance, the more I see of Flanagan the more I like, strong in the tackle always makes himself available can cross the ball and plays things simple more often than not.
The big worry for me is that we only have a couple of weeks to the start of the season and still haven’t seen (for various reasons) Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Lucas, Gerrard and Suarez. How fit will these guys be even if they do make the Sunderland game? Our defence last night was shocking. No matter who Benitez played in defence we were always well organized. But the second goal last night concerned me-no one on the post for the corner, ridiculous ‘defending’ by Poulsen, all other players static even after the ball was flicked on. And watch Insua-exactly who was he meant to be marking? My local team would have defended better. Time to get rid of Insua, Poulsen, Jovanovich, Kyriagos, Poulsen and Ngog. Several others could also go IMO. We need a strong pacy centre half, left back and a striker. Shane Long might be an option but what about Suarez’s Uruguyan team mate Abel Hernadez-I saw him play recently against Ireland (only a friendly but..) and he was excellent-I think he currently plays in Italy. They should ask Louis about him.
Rafa always had 2 midfielders sitting deep in front of the defence, so there was always time for them to get organised. We also mustn’t forget how many crucial tackles and clearances Lucas makes and he wasn’t available for all our preseason games.
Agree about the shop window, more like “Closing Down Sale, Everything Must Go”.
Match Report? a f*cking DISGRACE! (as per usual!)
I agree wiz u. No change ever. See my paragraph below…..
Kenny
Anyone worried by Carroll?, statue comes to mind!!!!
Goals come to mind. 13 in injury plagued season. Pretty good. We paid that because we sold Suarez. It was free.
I have been saying this for years…. and I am waiting for the moment which can halt me saying it again and again.
Liverpool has been going only through bad, worse and worst seasons and phases since 1990. Twenty years have passed by and you cannot see Liverpool coming again and believe me, i will still say it with conviction that let alone challenging for title, they wont even qualify for champions league, may be they have to fight for Europa league spot.
No coach is half as good as Fergie and no one in the whole world can make better with the medium players ManU has actually and even in the previous years where they have been chanting only glory.
You cannpt necessarily make a winning team by signing players and changing coaches. You have to be just like Fergie. Character……
He has done it without the likes of Ronaldo, Beckham, Keane and Tevez.
He needs a fair team and makes them win lots of trophies.
Dalglish is just better than his predecessors by little. He has proved that he has not been able to win simple matches for the last months.
Crazy him, he should stop dreaming…………. Not only Chelsea, ManU, City and Arsenal but the half lower table will all at Home beat Liverpool.
No changes, just sensationalism and nothing more than a penny.
they could be worse now than the previous seasons when there were McManaman, Owen, Gerard(at his best), and some others.
Believe me, Liverpudlians are wasting their time supporting this weak team and coach.
Caroll following by the other new boys will only fail.
It’s crazy that the American cannot see that.
Bad Luck for you!
Apart from the subs that easily was a fairwell game to those players…. Carroll too! Let’s not get it twisted. I doubt if any of them will feature in the commencing season for the reds, maybe the keepers!!
KK was just making sure that the deadwoods can be seen by the owners and the fans as to how bad the squad is and how much those players will not be missed.
As for Carroll…. An expensive mistake soon to be corrected with the arrival of two highly rated youngsters.
17 yr old youngsters. Dont be an uneducated here. Carroll had 13 goals this PL season. See where that ranks. Had 2 great goals against Man City. Your right what a mistake.
I appreciate all your comments towards my report … YNWA
I am so disappointed by this generation of Liverpool fans, when did we start losing faith in our team and coach, especially now in King Kenny, everybody should be behind the team now. Losing two games using are subs means the end of the world!!!! Wake up you guys. And what is this attacking Carroll thing? You should wait for the season to start and see what he is capable of.
I use to follow Liverpool news and games on the radio with very bad reception and barely can hear a thing during the 80s and early 90s from Iraq, and that never pushed me away from believing and standing behind our team even from far.
I just want everyone to chill and be patient, I understand it has been a struggle to win the league for a quite sometime but still this doesn’t stop us from getting behind the team we love, and that thing exactly is what I tell all other teams supporters that they don’t have, is the passion the Liverpool fans have for their club. Do you think that even barca fans will be behind their team if they were 3-0 down? I surely believe you will see some white handkerchiefs!!!!
So let us all stick together, and only time will reveal what will happen.
YNWA from IRAQ!!!
Considering we started with Robinson at left mid I think we did pretty well. the team was all over the place but it will get sorted. they even left the more important players at ancient so they could be ready for mondays game.