10/11 LFC recap: Liverpool 3 : West Ham United 0- Could this be the easiest game of the season?

LFC Player of the Game: Glen Johnson

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

Reina

Johnson Carragher Skrtel Koncheksy

Kuyt Meireles Poulsen Maxi

N'Gog Torres

Goals: Johnson '18, Kuyt '27, Maxi '38

10/11 LFC recap: Stoke City 2 : Liverpool 0- Stoke is the Reds' Worst Nightmare!

It's true Liverpool has been struggling mostly this season, especially away from home. Yet, I have never seen Liverpool struggled as much as facing a team like Stoke City. In fact, I am sure Liverpool would rather face Manchester United, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and even Barcelona than Stoke City! Stoke City's strength and gameplan can expose all the current Liverpool side weakness. First of all, they have a team full of strong 6 feeters. They work like work-horse, pressing and body-checking Liverpool the whole game using their long legs and muscle. Under such physical and RUBY-like style, Liverpool has been too busy dealing with all the long balls and physical pounding and thus, they can never get into their own rhythm. Stoke's attack is all about long-ball, continuous sending long crosses and crazy super powerful throw-in from Delap to the box with giants Jones, Huth, Shawcross, Fuller using their height and power to attack Liverpool with headers through set pieces. With Reina in GK, Carragher as DF, small MF like Lucas, Meireles and Maxi, Liverpool will always have trouble stopping Stoke long-ball strategy.

In recent games, Liverpool has clearly getting back on thre right track with key players regaining their form. However, this horrible display vs Stoke City has worried all LFC fans and media again speculated when will Hodgson step down. Yet, I don't blame Hodgson and Liverpool players for losing this game. In my opinion, Stoke City is the most difficult opponent for Liverpool among any teams in the world!

LFC Player of the game: Kyrgiakos

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

Reina

Carragher Kyrgiakos Skrtel Konchesky

Meireles Gerrard Lucas Maxi

Kuyt Torres

10/11 LFC recap: Wigan 1 : Liverpool 1- Three game winning streak come to a close...

After massive victory vs Chelsea last Sunday, Liverpool immediately had to face Wigan, one of the league most inconsistent teams that usually struggle but could also stun many big teams on their days, on Wednesday in a match with more fans expected Liverpool to come away with three points without much trouble. This expectation got even higher after Torres only took 7 minutes to score the 1st goal after receiving a perfect trademark through ball from captain Gerrard. However, after the early dominance, Liverpool gradually displayed their sloppy form with poor passing while Wigan took little time to control the game with atheletic players like N'ogbia, Moses, Rodallega continued to trouble the Reds with their pace and flair. After Wigan much deserved equalizer, Liverpool almost gained a hard victory with a quick counter attack that unfortunately ended with Gerrard's shot hitting the post. Not to make any excuses, Liverpool was tired for the whole game and it again showed that the current LFC squad is lacking of strength in depth. The impressive performance produced by Wigan in this game again showed that there wasn't any easy games in the most competitive English Premier League ever.

LFC Player of the Game: "Captain" Gerrard

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

Reina

Kelly Carragher Skrtel Konchesky

Meireles Gerrard Lucas Maxi

Kuyt Torres

Goal: Torres '7

10/11 LFC recap: Liverpool 2 : Chelsea 0- Liverpool no.9 is back as season back on the right track!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chelsea and Liverpool had been the "exact opposite" so far this season. Defending champion Chelsea had been the dominating league leader with games resulted in big winning margin and only conceded 2 rare goals in aggregate; the disappointing Liverpool had been the laughing stock in the league suffering from horrible defeats in their painful transition period with continuous relegation and manager sacking rumors flying around the football world. Before this game, even many die-hard LFC fans had doubt if Liverpool could provide a competitive encounter, let alone dreaming for a winning performance.

In my mind, I fully believed this game can be a do-or-die game for Liverpool as losing could mean LFC continued to suffer at the bottom half of the league, whereas; a victory against the league leader could be a big confidence booster as it made the Reds believe they belong to the elite class in the league. Similar to games against Arsenal and Manchester Uuntied, Liverpool performed much better against top teams as they produced the best 45 minutes so far this season with the rejuvenated "El Nino" scoring two brilliant goals to upset Chelsea infront of the Red faithful!!!Obviously, Liverpool's victory was helped by Chelsea's injury problem of Lampard and Essien while Liverpool's most fear forward Drogba was also sick for the game and could barely appeared for the 2nd half. Yet, no one can take away the improving performance for the Reds as they enjoyed the most beautiful victory of the season.

In truth, there are reasons why Liverpool has been more successful against top teams. Liverpool is most vulnerable against atheletic, strong and tall players playing physical style. They are afraid of teams pressing them the whole game and sending long ball to their box in attack due to their manager's perference in starting ariel-weak Carragher and Skrtel together in CB. They always have hard time to score against teams sitting deep in their own half and that's when their lack of width in attack can fully expose. However, top teams like Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea and even Tottenham, with skillful quality players, tend to attack Liverpool through short-pass, patient build-up rather then sending long-ball and relying on ariel attack. They tend to initial attack and do not defend deep in their own half, subsequently letting Liverpool to play defensive and counter-attacking game without as much reliance on wingers in attack. Without high defensive pressure pressing them and aggressively dispossess their possession in the midfield, Liverpool do not lose as much possession from defensive half to midfield, an unsolved problem since the departure of midfield general Xabi Alonso two seasons ago. In the near future, Liverpool must try to improve their quality in their wingers, acquire a strong forward and a tower presence at the back and hope for Meireles and Gerrard develop great chemistry in the CMF. Gradually, Liverpool should get back to the right track and re-join the race for the title and at least a Champion League place.

LFC player of the game: "El Nino" Torres

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

Reina

Kelly Carragher Skrtel Konchesky

Meireles Gerrard Lucas Maxi
Kuyt Torres

Goals: Torres 11' & '45

10/11 LFC recap: Bolton 0 : Liverpool 1- Maxi left it late as LFC escaped from relegation zone!

Bolton has been the surprising team in the Premier League this season as Coyle made them one of the hardest to beat team at home led by powerfu duo strikers Kevin Davies and Elmander. Liverpool continued to be without the service of the injured Glen Johnson at the right back, which actually was not a bad thing for the Reds. It means the must-start Carragher started at the right back with Kyrgiakos given another deserved start at CB. As mentioned in previous post, the big Greek is a must-start against teams with powerful and tower presence at the frontline. Although Liverpool didn't perform well in the game, they also did not allow Bolton to create any dangerous scoring opportunity, thanks to the presence of the big Greek. Just as the game seemingly ended with a dull scoreless tie, Torres, quiet for the whole game, provided rare moment of brilliance with a great assist to the long-silent Maxi Rodriquez to score a vital goal to help the Reds beaten Bolton at a hard fought away game. Liverpool finally escaped from the relegation zone!

LFC player of the game: Maxi Rodriquez

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

Reina
Carragher Kyrgiakos Skrtel Konchesky
Meireles Lucas

Maxi Gerrard J.Cole

Torres

Goals: Maxi 85'

10/11 LFC recap: Liverpool 2 : Blackburn 1- Kyrgiakos' hero at both ends as LFC finally got their 1st league win for more than a month!

Liverpool badly needed to win a game somehow to escape from the relegation zone. Facing Blackburn at home did seem like an golden opportunity as Rovers is one of the worst teams away from home. However, Rovers' physical and long-ball style fear Liverpool. Since the departure of Sami Hyypia, Liverpool did not have a tower presence to defend powerful forward and ariel attack. LFC finally found the answer in big Greek- Kyrgiakos.

Since Kyrgiakos arrived last season at a bargain price, he was used as 4th chocie CB behind Carragher, Skrtel and Agger. However, none of Carragher, Skrtel and Agger are good at defending headers. Both Hodgson and Benitez favors Carragher and Skrtel partnership which, in my opinion, can never be an effective partnership in English Premier League. Carragher and Skrtel are similar in style and they both need a tower presence as their partner to display their best function in defense.

Kyrgiakos was the inspirational spark in both defensive and offensive ends, as he not only helped defending crosses and headers, but also delivered a powerful header that opened the account for the Reds that boosted the team confidence and led the Reds to end their winning drought in the English Premier League for more than a month!

LFC player of the game: Kyrgiakos

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

Reina

Carragher Kyrgiakos Skrtel Konchesky

Meireles Lucas
Maxi Gerrard J.Cole
Torres

Goals: Kyrgiakos 48' & Torres 53'