Back with a Bang

Back with a Bang

After a promising display against an in-form Chelsea there were many positives to take away from that performance. Despite pressing and playing terrific football we were undone because of a sloppy mistake which eventually cost us the cup-tie. There were a few decisions that did not go our way but that is football, arguably the biggest call for me was Diego Costa’s malicious stamp on Emre Can. How the fourth official missed that call was beyond my belief, but justice was served when he received his three match ban. No matter what anyone says there was clear intent to hurt a player; it is just surprising that he did not receive a longer ban and I am pretty sure if that was Suarez it would have been a 10 match ban. As great a player Diego Costa is he just sails too close to the wind which plots against his own downfall! Throughout both cup-ties we were clearly the better side but our lack of finishing shined right through with Coutinho and Sterling missing chances. Despite all the criticism Mignolet has faced he truly played well on Wednesday, however Courtois showed his class as he saved more than 4 shots on target. We can still hold our heads up high despite the defeat, our Champions league hopes remain intact after the fantastic displays against Chelsea!

Last Saturday we encountered a West Ham side that are pushing for the top 4 just like us, this was going to be a very tough fixture! In my opinion I thought that we have been playing very well in the last few weeks but this was going to be a very hard fixture especially as they beat us 3-1 in the reverse match. As the first half was goalless I believe that Brendan enforced some attacking tactics, this helped us as Coutinho’s brilliant pass found Sterling who scored. Since Sterling has been put up front I believe that his finishing has improved significantly!  But then the moment in what all Liverpool fans were hoping for… Daniel Sturridge’s return! In the 70^th minute he came on to replace Lazar Markovic; the game was still at 1-0 but after being on for only 12 minutes he managed to score after a brilliant first touch and exquisite finish. The game finished at 2-0 and as Sam Allardyce came for his interview he said the craziest thing that I have heard “We lost because of injuries”. That is just simply absurd; he could have said we played well which we did! After a hectic week we then faced a Bolton side who have improved under Neil Lennon. As the game started I knew that we were going too pushed but boy this was a close shave. After a dull first half, we conceded after the break through a penalty which was clearly a blatant dive! With only 5 minutes left I believed that we were out of the FA cup and Stevie G’s dream was over. But a superb pass from Emre Can unlocked the door, which found Sterling and finished brilliantly. After hitting the post more than 3 times, Coutinho scored the winner with a brilliant finish from outside the box. The matches finished and we were through but the problem is we have to go to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace in which they beat us 3-1 in the last match we played against them!

The Liverpool academy has produce some wonderful players over the years but there is one player whom I am extremely excited about.  Jordan Ibe has just been recalled from his loan move at Derby County because of his promising displays and I am certain that he is going to start most matches. There are also some other players who are out on loan such as Joao Texiera who is at Brighton and has since been a vital part of their squad.

On Saturday we faced Everton in the 224^th Merseyside derby, it was going to be intense. As the game started we were under immense pressure we just could not keep the ball but then a brilliant moment by Jordan Ibe almost unlocked the door as he smashed the post! After a goalless first half, Brendan proposed some attacking tactics which almost helped as Coutinho just could not pick up the right pass from outside the box.  The introduction of Ross Barkley made a big difference as he supplied a sublime pass to Seamus Coleman who just could not finish with their only shot on target. Unfortunately, Gerrard’s last derby ended in a draw but despite this I believe we played a lot better than Everton.

Finally, we are still pushing for that 4^th place but in my opinion we have just left it a little too late but if we beat Tottenham anything is possible!