10/11 LFC recap: Everton 2 : Liverpool 0- Henry first taste of Anfield faithful frustration

After years of speculation, Liverpool finally kicked out Hicks and Gillet with new owner Henry of NESV Consortium made his first visit to LFC local derby against rival Everton. Before the match, Henry has promised he will try his very best to bring glory days back to Anfiled and also handed Hodgson vote of confidence. However, after witnessing the dismal performance against Everton, Henry should know how massive a task and challenge he is facing.

It was a frustrating match with Lucas and Merelies starting as DMF/CMF pair in another passive 4-2-3-1 formation that has been proving to be ineffective since two seasons ago. Gerrard was assigned as AMF role just behind Torres to provide attacking spark. Sadly, Lucas and Merelies have failed their job in deeper DMF roles. The 1st 20+ minutes of 1st half is probably one of the worst 20 minutes I have seen for a long time with LFC hardly been able to move the ball past the Everton defensive half. Hodgson may regret not to keep Gerrard in deeper CMF role. Everton's Cahill and Arteta goals are thundering shots that Reina could have done nothing to stop. Liverpool was able to attack more with Gerrard move back to CMF and once again, the struggling Torres played a bit better once Ngog was substituted into the game after switching to 4-4-2 formation with more direct attacking play. However, changes are too late as LFC sits one place above the bottom at 19th. Like everyone connected to LFC, I have never been so worried about the team in the past 20 years....

LFC player of the game: N/A

Starting line-up: (4-2-3-1)

Reina
Carragher Kyrgiakos Skrtel Konchesky
Meireles Lucas

Maxi Gerrard J.Cole

Torres

10/11 LFC recap: Liverpool 1 : Blackpool 2- Do we belong to Regelation Zone?

Liverpool was in all-time low as they shockingly lost to newly promoted side Blackpool in Anfield! What brothers me is the way LFC has lost the game, as Blackpool has shown superior passing, movement and skills throughout the game to win the football match. LFC showed their attacking ambitions with Torres and Kuyt starting as strikers in 4-4-2 formation. However, with Torres suffered another groin injury and forced to leave the field as early as 9th minute during the 1st half, Blackpool was able to take psychological edge without worrying about marking Torres; thereby, allowing them to fully-commit to their all-attacking football. Liverpool replaced Torres with N'Gog but both N'Gog and Kuyt do not have individual skills to beat defenders but rely on midfield to create chances. However, with Gerrard playing deep as CMF in "Xabi Alonso'" role and Cole and Meireles both forced to play on the wing , LFC failed to create any meaningful chances for their strikers. Sadly, the most threatening attacking move from LFC was the headers from giant Greek CB Kyrgiakos as he scored one and almost tied the game near end of the game with another header. The problem for LFC was the lack of essential elements in different positions. Up-front, they need a power striker with heading ability. LFC do not have natural wingers as none of Jovanovic,Kuyt,Babel,Maxi,J.Cole,Meireles can operate on the flanks effectively. In DMF, both Poulsen and Lucas are simply not good enough wearing LFC jersey, forcing Gerrard to play deep to serve both CMF/DMF role. At the back, LFC need to find a giant CB or they will keep conceding headers. While the ownership issue can be a big cause for the current team slump, players cannot make excuses but to show their pride wearing the LFC jersey by keep raising their own game level. I did notice LFC has not been pressing and chasing opponents as hard under Hodgson era compared to Benitez's era. Although LFC have been a success team in Europe over the past 10 years, they always rely on hard work and never had they been able to beat opponents based on superior skills. Yet, players like Gerrard, Kuyt and Carragher are all gradually ageing and do not have the energy to play a hard chasing games like they were capable of in the past. In fact, Hodgson has played a full-strength team minus Gerrard in the Europa League only three days before this Blackpool game. The players have shown fatigue in the 2nd half as they tried to chase from behind but did not really have the energy level. I believe Hodgson should now decide whether he should focus on the domestic league or the Europa League more as the current LFC squad do not have the depth to handle both competitions. Now media and fans are calling for Hodgson's resignation. Although I admit I have already lost a bit of trust and confidence in him, I still believe he can turn it around but he really needs to make some changes in the side, such as switching Meireles back to the CMF and either benching the poorly performed Glen Johnson or assigning him to play right wing as he has made millions of mistakes in the right back position.

LFC may now be 18th in the league standing, but they are only 5 points behind 5th place. It's still too early to raise white flag and we fans must provide continuous support. We just hope a rich and ambitious investor can finally successfully takeover our club away from those 2 lousy Americans before Oct. 15!

LFC player of the game: Kyrgiakos

Starting line-up: (4-4-2)

Reina

Johnson Kyrgiakos Skrtel Carragher

Meireles Gerrard Poulsen J.Cole

Kuyt Torres*

*replaced by N'Gog in 9th min.

Goals: Kyrgiakos '53