Gareth Baleforce and the hapless Liverpool

We have had an enjoyable period of superiority over Liverpool in recent years and last night’s visit looked to promise the continuation of that dominance without too much difficulty. Liverpool were on a run of fairly dismal results with one win in their last eight games in all competitions. Their form veering between occasionally playing well, getting creditable draws with Chelsea and Newcastle, and playing like dog-shit in losing to Swansea and drawing with Young Boys of Bern, both at Anfield.

Although our last couple of games hadn’t exactly set the world alight (I do not wish to discuss the NLD) we had good reason to be confident after the way we despatched a West Ham team who had been playing fairly well. However it wasn’t quite like that, for the first twenty minutes we played with tempo, aggression and purpose, stretching Liverpool down the wings and taking a two goal lead. Both goals owed much to the hard work and brilliance of Bale, his run and cross for Lennon down the left flank were unstoppable and his deflected free kick was fortunate but you’ve got to buy a ticket and all that. Liverpool then grew into the game as the second half went on and towards the end of the half looked the more likely to score as Suarez saw more and more the ball.

The second half began as the first had ended, Liverpool dominating and threating through the rat-faced Uruguayan and Jose ‘cue ball’ Enrique who continually picked up the ball in our third of the pitch and was a very real danger. We struggled to reassert our dominance as the half went on and Liverpool were much the better team in the second period, the closest we came to scoring again was another Bale free kick from around 25 yards which whistled past the post as Jose Reina dived helplessly at thin air.

In the 72nd minute Bale scored again but unfortunately this time he was the victim of circumstance, Lennon’s goal line clearence smashing him in the face from point blank range, flooring him and putting the Reds back in it. One for those poorly produced d-list-celebrity-presented bloopers DVD’s. As the now uncomfortably tight game squeaked through the last ten minutes Liverpool had a series of set pieces which were well defended but had many in attendance, me included, watching through our hands.

For all the hilarity of some of their results under Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool aren’t the laughing stock some would have you believe. If they continue to play like that this season, with a few additions in the window they will be fine. However, it probably shouldn’t have been as tense and difficult as it was for Tottenham. We had enough chances in the first half to kill the game off but not extending our advantage beyond two goals always left us open to a comeback.

It’s a good win, but me and my ticker would be very grateful if AVB could get us into the habit of closing the door on a game when the opportunity presents itself rather than squeezing our way through said door before it nearly hits us on the arse on the way out.

[author name=”John Edward Toner” avatar=”https://www.thefightingcock.co.uk/forum/data/avatars/l/1/1728.jpg?1349789638″ twitter=”JohnEdwardToner” tag=”JohnEdwardToner[/linequote]