Anthony McIntyre ☠ The thought of having to wear the cap if it fits must have crossed the mind of Mo Salah this afternoon.

That's the penalty for having missed a penalty against EPL bottom scrapers, Bournemouth. The kick was so far wide it had a touch of the Harry Kane about it; that moment in Qatar when the English felt that Boris Johnston had moved on to captain the national soccer team having just capsized the national government.  

Salah, the goal at his mercy, inexplicably executed an inexpertly taken spot kick and saw it go well wide of the post: symbolically as off target as Liverpool's entire season has been.

In the Vitality Stadium the Anfield men showed no vital signs. Life had been pronounced extinct from the side that devastated Manchester United last Sunday. Not for the first time this season.

After last week’s unprecedented victory I spoke to my sister. Both of us were in great form but she issued a word of caution: this current Liverpool is capable of turning victory inside out against Bournemouth. And so it proved to be. The shine of last week’s success has dimmed considerably after a dull dismal performance today.

As they have demonstrated a number of times this season, a seven goal finish does not reflect the true nature of the side. Each time they soar to great heights they as quickly slouch to abysmal lows. Last time out they put nine past Bournemouth, today they put none past them. Lacking the ability and drive that Arsenal possess, a comeback against the Vitality victors was simply not possible no matter how many extra minutes were added on. At no point did it seem as if this team could score.

I watched the first half in a local pub in the company of a friend over a glass of soda water and lime before rushing home to catch the second half. I got wet for no good reason and should have stayed put in the bar. On the dry would have acquired extra meaning in today's wretched conditions. No uplifting news to greet me as I crossed the portal into my home. But from what I had watched in the bar, that didn't surprise me. At one point I looked at my Liverpool wrist watch. It had stopped, much like the side. The watch at least was easily started again. 

There is no chance that Liverpool will play in the Champion's League next season. Too much ground to make up to secure a top four EPL slot, they face a similar obstacle when they travel to the Bernabéu to face Real Madrid. The Spanish side has too much quality while Liverpool have too little. Despite ageing, the entire Liverpool midfield is considerably younger than Luka Modrić who will give the Reds a lesson in what it takes to be a winner.

The best that can be hoped for is holding out until the summer when some radical surgery can be performed: a serious transfusion of talent and not the quality-bypass procedures it has been undergoing this season.

⏩ Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.

From Nine To None

Anthony McIntyre ☠ The thought of having to wear the cap if it fits must have crossed the mind of Mo Salah this afternoon.

That's the penalty for having missed a penalty against EPL bottom scrapers, Bournemouth. The kick was so far wide it had a touch of the Harry Kane about it; that moment in Qatar when the English felt that Boris Johnston had moved on to captain the national soccer team having just capsized the national government.  

Salah, the goal at his mercy, inexplicably executed an inexpertly taken spot kick and saw it go well wide of the post: symbolically as off target as Liverpool's entire season has been.

In the Vitality Stadium the Anfield men showed no vital signs. Life had been pronounced extinct from the side that devastated Manchester United last Sunday. Not for the first time this season.

After last week’s unprecedented victory I spoke to my sister. Both of us were in great form but she issued a word of caution: this current Liverpool is capable of turning victory inside out against Bournemouth. And so it proved to be. The shine of last week’s success has dimmed considerably after a dull dismal performance today.

As they have demonstrated a number of times this season, a seven goal finish does not reflect the true nature of the side. Each time they soar to great heights they as quickly slouch to abysmal lows. Last time out they put nine past Bournemouth, today they put none past them. Lacking the ability and drive that Arsenal possess, a comeback against the Vitality victors was simply not possible no matter how many extra minutes were added on. At no point did it seem as if this team could score.

I watched the first half in a local pub in the company of a friend over a glass of soda water and lime before rushing home to catch the second half. I got wet for no good reason and should have stayed put in the bar. On the dry would have acquired extra meaning in today's wretched conditions. No uplifting news to greet me as I crossed the portal into my home. But from what I had watched in the bar, that didn't surprise me. At one point I looked at my Liverpool wrist watch. It had stopped, much like the side. The watch at least was easily started again. 

There is no chance that Liverpool will play in the Champion's League next season. Too much ground to make up to secure a top four EPL slot, they face a similar obstacle when they travel to the Bernabéu to face Real Madrid. The Spanish side has too much quality while Liverpool have too little. Despite ageing, the entire Liverpool midfield is considerably younger than Luka Modrić who will give the Reds a lesson in what it takes to be a winner.

The best that can be hoped for is holding out until the summer when some radical surgery can be performed: a serious transfusion of talent and not the quality-bypass procedures it has been undergoing this season.

⏩ Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.

4 comments:

  1. L/pool 7 Man Utd 1...
    Bournemouth 1L/Pool 0
    Does this mean Bournemouth will win the PL 😋😋

    ReplyDelete
  2. Surely "a serious transfusion of talent" will be impossible if you don't have UCL football?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that's the self reinforcing problem - although Utd brought in new talent with ten Haag which I doubt came hoping to play in the Europa League.

      Delete