Liverpool Player Ratings against 'Boro
Another accomplished performance against Boro has seen our excellent run extend to seven successive Premiership wins and ten clean sheets. Below are the player ratings:
Pep 8 Didn't have much to do other than make two excellent vital saves.
Carra 7 Helped keep the Boro strikers very quiet.
Sami 8 Is currently in majestic form. Used his positional awareness to make a number of timely interceptions.
Finnan 7 A solid right back performance. Made some dangerous forward forays.
Riise 7 A typically efficient performance. Unlucky not to score a goal of the season contender after meeting a Gerrard corner with 25 yard volley.
Momo 8 Covered lots of ground and prevented Boro from getting any attacking rhythm.
Xabi 7 Displayed his usual repertoire of telling passes and broke up some Boro attacks.
Gerrard 8 Drifted inside from the right midfield to cause havoc. Played a key role in the first goal.
Kewell 7 Showing signs of returning to decent form. Tested Schwarzer with a long range effort and seemed more determined to take opponents on.
Crouch 7 As usual caused the opposition defence lots of problems and created chances of others.
Nando 8 Scored a couple of well taken goals and came close to scoring with some other efforts.
The Subs
Garcia 7 Made an important contribution as a sub setting up the first goal.
Cisse & Josemi 6 Did not have enough time to make a proper impact.
Please post your views on the game.
posted by withwolves @ 3:14 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
would bet anyone that liverpool dont finish in the champions league positions come the end of the season. they are on a good run beating some of the poorest teams in the division at present but they are punching well above there waitas far as league positions go
Actually Liverpool's past problems have stemmed from being unable to beat the poorer teams and with arsenal and the mancs going through poor patches I'd take that bet...They are only going to get better...2nd or 3rd this season and the big one the next ;-)
Analysis of our team.
Our tactics are:
A pressing, posession game.
Midfielders in two categries:
1) Classy Defensive mids.
2) 'Hole' men. Goalscoring, creative attacking midfielders, capable of crossing but not definitively 'wingers'. Simao will add to this 'hole'-men catagory. Gonzalez is an out and out winger who will provide an alternative option, but will inevitable learn the Benitez WAY.
Forwards whose main purpose is to be involved in creative attacking with the 'hole'-men. They should score roughly as often as these attacking midfielders find the back of the net, but as long as they are contributing to good attacking play and keeping hold of the ball, they are well in.
Formation variations:
------Crouch-Morientes
---Kewell--------Gerrard
------Alonso Sissoko...
--------Morientes
---Kewell Garcia Gerrard
------Alonso Sissoko...
------Crouch-Morientes
---Kewell Garcia Gerrard
----------Alonso...
...
Riise Hyypia Carragher Finnan
----------Reina
Personnel:
Reina: Commands the defence well, which improves the offside trap. Seems to be a decent shot-stopper when he has to. Makes
some silly distribution decisions sometimes, but he is only 23 though, this will improve with experience. Had an excellent
clean sheet record at Villareal too, so whatever way you look at it, he seems to get the right results.
Riise: Not the best defender in terms of his natural ability, but, he seems to understand Rafa's instructions well and
contributes effectively. Offers a lot going forward. Can shoot and cross.
Hyypia: Untouchable in the air. Decent positional awareness. Playing out of his skin partnered with Carra. Lack of speed is
his only failing, but an incredible defender nevertheless.
Carragher: ANFIELD F-ING LEGEND. Best centreback in the country this season. Nuff said.
Finnan: Best right back in the Premiership. We really miss him when he isn't there. Decent crosser of the ball to boot.
Alonso: Sheer class. Thoroughbred. His passing makes me weep. Very solid defensively; check the stats if you don't think so.
Sissoko: Erratic, but shows massive potential. ONLY 20 F-ing years old for chrisssake. He isn't going to peak for 8ish years.
Bl00dy hell.
Kewell: Many have called for his head but based on his last performace he is a worthy team player. If he continues to
progress he'll be a great asset. Potentially phenomenal.
Garcia: Goes missing regularly. Wins us matches when no-one else can. The only luxury player Rafa can tolerate. Go figure. I
love him.
Gerrard: In 2 years he will be the best midfielder in the world. Ought to be captaining England this summer. If anyone can
inspire teammates to victory, they can't do it as well as Stevie-G.
Morientes: We haven't seen the best of him. As with Kewell though, I am willing to wait, based on recent performances he's good ENOUGH, but any further progress he makes is naturally welcome.
Crouch: He'll never score many goals, but for his ability to keep the ball and bring the likes of Gerrard, Garcia and Kewell
into the game, he deserves his red shirt.
Cisse: Wonderful energy. Woeful touch. Scores goals. Misses sitters. He doesn't fit the system, but he's a welcome option. I have plenty of warm feeling for him, but we need to win, and despite the goals he scores, he just won't facilitate long-term winning.
Benitez: You astound me, Sir. Genius.
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