Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City - Match Review

Liverpool were left bitterly disappointed as Manchester City snatched a draw at Anfield in a game the Reds really should have won.

After City dominated the first 15 minutes, Liverpool took control and opened the scoring with Martin Skrtel’s thumping header 11 minutes before half time. An error from Martin Kelly got City back in the game on the 63^rd minute as Yaya Toure turned the ball into the net.

The score was not level for long, as it took only three minutes for Suarez to curl in a sublime free-kick after former Evertonian Jack Rodwell had blocked a shot with his hands. However, any hopes of coming away with three points were dashed as Skrtel played a blind back-pass to Reina, which Carlos Tevez pounced on and slotted into an open net after rounding the goalkeeper.

It was a harsh lesson for Liverpool’s defensive unit to learn, as two individual mistakes essentially cost the entire team the three points. There was nothing wrong with the general play or the tactics; it was just lapses in concentration which cost them.

West Brom 3-0 Liverpool – Match Review

The new Premier League season got off to the worst possible start for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool at the Hawthorns.

Recent 3-0 and 3-1 victories over FC Gomel and Bayer Leverkusen respectively had fans in an optimistic mood ahead of the new season, but Liverpool were punished for a combination of poor individual performances and wastefulness in front of goal, as West Brom embarrassed the Reds in a 3-0 win.

Zoltan Gera opened the scoring with an absolute beauty, volleying the ball into the top corner after Martin Skrtel only half-cleared a corner. Two penalties in quick succession essentially defined the game in the second half, with Daniel Agger given his marching orders by referee Phil Dowd for the slightest of nudges on Shane Long as the Irishman ran through on goal.

Long missed the penalty but earned his side another one moments later, catching Skrtel in possession inside his own area before the Slovak tripped him up. Odemwingie took the subsequent spot-kick and West Brom were 2-0 up while Liverpool were down to 10 men.

Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku finished the scoring with a close-range header as Liverpool went out with a whimper. 

Liverpool 3-1 Bayer Leverkusen – Match Review

Liverpool wrapped up their pre-season preparations by welcoming back living legend Sami Hyypia to Anfield.

The Finn, who made over 450 appearances for Liverpool over a 10-year spell at the club, is now testing his managerial prowess with German side Bayer Leverkusen.

Both Hyypia and Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers selected relatively strong teams and a good mix of experience and youth, with youngster Raheem Sterling getting another pre-season run out for the Reds.

And it was Sterling who opened the scoring within three minutes. Jose Enrique slipped a through ball in between the Leverkusen right-back and center-back, which Sterling raced onto before skipping away from another challenge and slotting the ball into the far corner. It was the perfect start for Liverpool as it settled down the team who then got into a calm passing rhythm.

Liverpool 3-0 FC Gomel (4-0 on Aggregate) – Match Review

Liverpool confirmed their place in the Europa League play-off qualifiers with a confident and dominant performance against FC Gomel in Anfield’s opening fixture under the leadership of Brendan Rodgers.

Goals from home debutant Fabio Borini, Captain Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson sent the Belarusian side home without really getting a sniff of goal all night.

The biggest positive from the night for Liverpool fans will have been the appearance of Daniel Agger after several days of speculation linking the Danish defender with a move to Manchester City.

Agger, sporting his new “YNWA” tattoo across the fingers of his right hand, had a relatively simple night alongside center-back partner Martin Skrtel. Both brought the ball forward to good effect, essentially starting attacks from the back. The two wing-backs in Johnson and Jose Enrique had a great night, constantly bombing forward and getting themselves heavily involved in many attacks, culminating in Johnson’s beautiful 20 yard volley in the 71^st minute.

Closing the Chapter on Alberto Aquilani

On August 3, it was finally confirmed that Alberto Aquilani had left Liverpool to join Fiorentina in a permanent deal. This follows two years straight of constant speculation about where the Italian international’s future belongs.

Aquilani was brought in from hometown club Roma by Rafael Benitez in the summer of 2009 to replace outgoing talisman Xabi Alonso, who had just finalized a £30mil move to Real Madrid. Liverpool only paid 5mil Euro’s up front for Aquilani, with the following 15mil Euro’s all being paid within the next two years in installments.

Despite being highly rated, Aquilani arrived on Merseyside carrying an injury and did not make his debut for Liverpool until October 28, 2009 with a substitute appearance against Arsenal in a 2-1 Carling Cup loss at the Emirates.

He went on to make 26 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool in the 2009/2010 season, scoring two goals in the process. His link-up play was excellent once he re-gained his fitness and many fans believed he would go on to form a formidable midfield alongside Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard.

FC Gomel 0-1 Liverpool – Match Review

Brendan Rodgers first game in charge of Liverpool ended with victory, but FC Gomel of Belarus did not make it easy for the Reds. Despite controlling large chunks of the game and creating many chances, Gomel struggled to convert anything past Brad Jones in goal. Instead it was Liverpool who will take a slender lead back to Anfield next Thursday thanks to a 30-yard belter from Stewart Downing – a sight Liverpool fans will be hoping to see a lot more of this coming season.

Rodgers went with a stronger line-up than what most fans had been expecting, but a lack of cohesion meant a deeply frustrating first half, with Joe Cole being forced off injured the main incident from a Liverpool point of view. Gomel, on the other hand, created numerous half-chances and was unfortunate not to go into the break with at least a one goal advantage. 

Liverpool Need More than Dempsey to Replace Carroll

News that Liverpool had accepted a £2mil loan offer from West Ham United for Andy Carroll – with a view to a £17mil permanent move should the Hammers stay up – was widely met with disappointment but not shock by Liverpool fans.

The England striker had finally started to hit top form towards the end of the season, with important goals against Blackburn Rovers, Everton and Chelsea. He followed up those impressive performances with a ruthless header against Sweden in the European Championships in a 3-2 win.

The appointment of Brendan Rodgers as Liverpool manager at the beginning of June meant that the Reds would be playing an attractive brand of football based around possession this coming season. Alarm bells began ringing immediately for Liverpool fans regarding the future of Carroll at the club. The worry is that Carroll will struggle to adapt to a more possession-oriented style of play, but at the same time fingers can be pointed at Danny Graham, who played a similar role to great effect for Rodgers’ old side Swansea last season.