Game Recap of Fixtures with Anzhi, Everton and Swansea

Liverpool 1-0 Anzhi Makhachkala

After finally getting that illusive first home league win of the season against Reading, Liverpool welcomed Russian super-spenders Anzhi Makhachkala to Anfield in the Europa League. Brendan Rodgers recognized the strength of the Dagestan outfit and fielded a strong line-up of his own including the likes of Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez.

The Reds were on the front foot for most of the first half but struggled to make a breakthrough. Jonjo Shelvey missed an excellent opportunity to give Liverpool the lead but could only scoop his shot over the bar from 18 yards with only the keeper to beat after great work from Suarez. Liverpool were also denied a host of penalty appeals, the most forceful being when Glen Johnson was tripped from behind just as he was about to pull the trigger from six yards out.

Recent Games Round-up Part 3

Liverpool 2-3 Udinese

After finally securing their first league win of the season with the 5-2 thrashing of Norwich, Liverpool’s attentions shifted to the Europa League and the visit of Italian side Udinese.

Jonjo Shelvey was making his first appearance since his sending off against Manchester United, and it took him 23 minutes to make his mark as he headed in a floated cross from the much-maligned Stewart Downing – who was also making a rare start. The lead stayed with Liverpool until half time with Udinese posing little attacking threat and little evidence that they would be able to get back into the game.

Recent Games Round-up Part 2

West Brom 1-2 Liverpool

Liverpool travelled back to the Hawthorns in an attempt to gain revenge for their season-opening 3-0 drubbing against West Brom with a tie against the same opponent in the Capital One Cup. Brendan Rodgers used the cup competition to throw youngsters and new signings into the deep end yet again, with Sebastian Coates, Andre Wisdom, Jack Robinson, Dani Pacheco and Samed Yesil all awarded a starting spot, as well as opportunities for new signings Nuri Sahin and Oussama Assaidi.

The game started in the worst possible fashion for the Reds as Gabriel Tamas capitalized after reserve goalkeeper Brad Jones had dropped a lofted free kick, with replays showing that the Australian keeper was in fact struck in the face by West Brom defender Jonas Olsson just as he went up for the catch. 

It took only 14 minutes for Liverpool to reply though, with Sahin firing in a speculative shot from thirty yards only for Ben Foster to make a complete hash out of the save and could only watch the ball bounce into the back of the net for the Turkish internationals first goal for the club after his loan move from Real Madrid.

Recent Games Round-up Part 1

It has been a while since I last had a match report write-up, so I am going to quickly cover all the games I have missed since the draw with Sunderland.

It will be split into three parts with the first covering the games against Young Boys and Manchester United, part 2 will cover the Capital One Cup game against West Brom and the trip to Carrow Road to face Norwich. Part 3 will cover the next Europa League fixture against Udinese, and the two back-to-back home league games against Stoke and Reading.

Sunderland 1-1 Liverpool - Match Review

Liverpool couldn’t find their way passed a stubborn Sunderland defense as the Reds are still looking for their first league win of the season. It was a game which Liverpool deserved to win but in some way or another Sunderland held out for a point.

Steven Fletcher gave Sunderland the lead in the 29^th minute after poor defensive play first from Luis Suarez and Glen Johnson, and then from Martin Skrtel who let Fletcher get around him and tap Craig Gardner’s cross into the empty net. It was against the run of play, which is becoming a nasty habit for Rodgers and his team.

Liverpool struggled to muster a response for the remainder of the first half, but they did have two penalty appeals with Johnson first being hauled to the ground only for referee Martin Atkinson to wave away his appeal, and then when Suarez was seemingly clipped by John O’Shea the striker was booked for diving.

Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal - Match Review

Liverpool succumbed to their second defeat of the season with an abysmal showing against Arsenal at Anfield. Goals from Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla either side of half time sent a lack-luster Liverpool back to the drawing board.

Both sets of fans were left frustrated and disappointed over their clubs lack of activity on transfer deadline day, and this game was always going to show which team had more glaring gaps in their squad.

Unfortunately it was Liverpool who were found wanting as they produced another performance on-par with their opening day defeat to West Brom.

The first half was relatively even, with both teams showing flashes of excellent play but were generally sloppy in possession. Powerful midfielder Abou Diaby caused the most problems for the Liverpool defense as he broke through the midfield with ease time and time again.

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.