Spurs Beat Tottenham

Anthony McIntyre was unimpressed by Liverpool's latest foray.

Regular readers will by now know - and be bored knowing - that watching Liverpool play live soccer is not something I find agreeable these days. Having switched off at half time during an abysmal display against West Ham earlier this year, I have not watched them since other than a smattering of minutes during a game against Everton. Masochism might be for some, but I don’t figure amongst their number.

Yesterday afternoon I headed off to town to pick up a few things, most notably a Mother’s Day gift. I left it late, very late. When I returned home, NCIS was on the television, and I made neither a move nor a suggestion to switch it to anything else. Once it ended, I nonchalantly flicked the channels in search of the latest scores and, more fortuitously than anything else, came across Liverpool in action against Tottenham. They too, just like me, left things late on Mother’s Day, squeezing a win in the dying minutes of the game courtesy of a Mo Salah-forced Spurs own goal.

Tempted to immediately turn it off to remain consistent with my decision to abandon them to their whims, I allowed myself just a quick peek which lasted until the last kick of the game. Long story short, I cheated myself. The only saving grace was that on this occasion I looked upon what unfolded in front of me with a dispassion that largely amounted to indifference. The worried expressions on the faces of the fans as the game progressed - regressed might be a better characterisation - weakened my resolve and tilted my emotions towards the red lot in front of me but admittedly without any great enthusiasm or fondness. 

What I saw did nothing to dissuade me from holding onto my season long view: this team is not good enough to win the Premiership. If it does win, then the Premiership is not good enough to be won by a quality team. The manner of their final goal was a tale long foretold: this is a side that has fumbled and fluked its way to the top of the table. That sort of luck can’t get you over every hump. In every walk of life the moment of reckoning arrives at the same time as the piper demands his dues.

Even a draw in this home fixture would have flattered a most unimpressive Liverpool side. The best player this year sat on the bench for the bulk of the game. How he was meant to influence the game from there is something Jurgen Klopp alone knows. When he eventually came on, Fabinho began winning balls that others were prepared to parry rather than sieze. The unimaginative midfield combo of Milner-Henderson who created no more from the pitch than Fabinho did from the bench, does not work whatever the individual talents of both. Yet it was retained in position, operating as if it it were a bureaucracy. The best definition of a bureaucrat is that from James Boren: someone with a pencil that has a rubber at either end. Plenty of pencil twiddling energy from the Liverpool midfield duo but nothing to show at the end of it all.

Then when the lead was secured against the odds with only minutes remaining Lovren is put on, even though April Fool's Day is today, not yesterday. It was not a move necessitated by a limping Van Dijk whose sublime off the ball decision making in front of goal, during which he sustained the niggle, is what really secured the Merseyside men the three points. Lovren replaced Salah, the man who had forced the goal. It is understandable that Klopp would want to strengthen his backline with two minutes to run down on the clock: why, paradoxically, he would want to weaken it with Lovren when he could as easily have pulled Fabinho back from midfield and thrown in Shaqiri, is again inexplicable to all but himself. A team that is already chronically nervous will not have the Xanax effect induced by the insertion of Lovren. The German has us squirming and we know not why.

Another stuttering, stumbling performance, lacking in panache or potential, the only hope for Liverpool is that Manchester City might start playing as badly as them in the home straight.



13 comments:

  1. Reds on course to score 97 points the second or third highest tally ever,already equalled the 79 when they last won the lge.Fergie teams won ugly, why not Lfc?If they don't pocket a trophy this season it will take another four years to get over the nightmare. How do you compete against a team with infinite money?I would take one trophy now,I'm not greedy,either would do.Will Utd beat City,they need fourth?Juve Reds Cl final.

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  2. You have got to be the most cynical Liverpool plan in existence. Usually Scousers would hark back to the 'Glory Days' when they are losing but you really love sticking the boot in unless they win by 5 clear goals!

    Don't blame you, I'd turn a blind eye if they put Sarri against the wall.

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  3. Ronan - I don't recall any of Fergie's teams as poor or as flairless as this Liverpool team. If they can wing ugly fine but it is most unlikely that they will. I don't see United beating City - I have no confidence in Liverpool winning the remaining games. They will go for their standard draw.

    Steve - I am absolutely cynical about them. 7 points clear at Xmas and with woeful performances they throw it

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    1. Utd won the prem with just 75 and 79 points in 97 and 99.Never had a defence as tight as this Lfc team;scored a similar goals per game as present Lfc squad when winning 13 titles.

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    2. but isn't this the point? Utd won the title and this side won't. It doesn't matter how many points you have if somebody else has more. A tight defence is useless if you can't score more goals than the opposing team.

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  4. The dream is still on for both of us, Anthony. There is a perhaps hackneyed swaying about making your own luck at the top.

    Good luck at St Mary's on Friday evening even if you refuse to watch!

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  5. Barry - you then are a dreamer and I am not!!

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  6. Anthony - to use another cliche take each game as it comes. I will not use the "p" word until we are at least four points clear of third place.

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  7. Barry - I do but I don't have much interest in the team. I think they are over rated and underwhelming

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  8. AM.. as a life long Liverpool supporter I agree with you 100%, but I still think they could plod along as is and win the league.

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    1. it is a possibility but it would be one we would want to forget. It feels like winning it fraudulently or because someone else was disqualified on a technicality. The defence is fine, forward line is fine, the midfield is a Bermuda triangle where every all creativity is destined to be lost. It makes nothing happen.

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    2. If Henderson and Milner are kept off the pitch me thinks it would help our sad cause. I would almost watch them play with 9 men for the rest of the season than watch this comedic duo run around.

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  9. City are 2 up at Palace. Toilets said to be blocked at Anfield before the Chelsea game

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