Remember Remember the month of December...

Consistency.  It has plagued Liverpool for years, and this season is no different.  After an October that shot the Reds up the table into the scrap of things, and a November beginning that saw Torres put on a clinic against Chelsea, Liverpool have managed just four points from a possible twelve.  Rather than breathing down table toppers United’s necks, Liverpool are sitting in 10^th, seven points out of fourth place. 

The loss on Sunday at Tottenham wasn’t due to woeful play, however.  Liverpool were beaten by blistering pace in the latter stages of the game.  Martin Skrtel opened up the scoring, only to level for Tottenham after halftime.  Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon’s speed was too much for the Liverpool defenders, leading to Lennon’s winner.  Tottenham look like a team that, when and if ever completely healed up, could be pushing for major honors this season and beyond.  Liverpool themselves are heading into injury crisis, with Jamie Carragher the latest to the treatment room. 

January cannot come soon enough for the Reds, but the question is, will they spend?  The January market has never truly been that big of a shopping mart but Liverpool need players.  Bad.  They need a real left winger, they need a left back and we’ve needed a striker for the past three seasons.  Arda Turan, Eden Hazard, and Karim Benzema have all been linked to Liverpool, and all three are names Fernando Torres and co. would like to see at Anfield. 

For now, Liverpool have to show heart, and players have to step up.  Gerrard won’t be back till late December if not January, and Carragher and Agger are both out long term.  Players like Meireles, Shelvey, Wilson, Ngog.  All must show they want to win, and it is needed now more than ever.  Looking down Liverpool’s fixtures, if they are to be in things with a shout come January, they must take maximum points.  The way things have fallen this season, 15 from 15 could see Liverpool as high as fourth by New Years.  Let’s all just hope the Reds see things the way we do! ~YNWA~

Arise Jonjo Shelvey

Whether we like it or not, everything happens for a reason.  One man’s pain is another man’s gain.  These clichés are thrown around often, and are proven time and time again.  Steven Gerrard picked up a lengthy injury on England duty, and that opened up a midfield spot.  Poulsen has seemingly fallen out of favor with the fans, and that left Jay Spearing to finally be thrown a chance to make himself a Kop favorite.  That is, until he also became sidelined with a fracture in his fibula.  This leaves a window of opportunity for the young prodigy Jonjo Shelvey.

John Henry has proclaimed an interest in developing our youth, and I for one am backing that interest.  Liverpool used to be powerhouse producers of footballers; Fowler, Carragher, Owen, Gerrard.  All these men were brought through the Liverpool ranks and made into legends.  Shelvey is not a product of the Liverpool Academy(he was brought through Charlton Athletic) but at 18 years old he is a prized young talent that was sought after by many big names.  When Liverpool signed him, it was big news.  Looking for young English talent is a philosophy many Premier League clubs are using.  Liverpool landed, “the next Gerrard.”

With the midfield role left vacant by Gerrard, there are only two midfielders to fill that spot.  Poulsen and Shelvey.  If Hodgson listens to the fans, Shelvey will be in that spot.  He likes to get forward, pick out long passes.  He does play similar to Gerrard’s style, and attacking football is what all Liverpool fans are looking for.  Is he ready for the Premier League?  Was Federico Macheda ready when he came off the bench and scored what would prove to be United’s most vital goal of the season?  If these young lads are ever going to be ready, they have to be thrown into the mix.  Shelvey isn’t Gerrard, and it will be hard for anyone to ever replace Gerrard. But Shelvey is Shelvey, and that is our future of midfield.

Funny old game...

Funny old game…

Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea.  Liverpool’s revival was hitting full throttle, and the rest of the league was taking notice, as well as slipping up themselves.  United again scraped by with a victory against Wolves, and Arsenal lost at home again.  This was a busy week for all, three games in seven days, four in ten if you count the European adventures) Midweek for Liverpool it was Wigan away, a seemingly “should win” game for the Reds.  And within the first ten minutes, Torres just about cemented that thought.  Torres latching on to a perfect Gerrard pass and firing home offered more proof that the Spaniard is back to his lethal best.  But from there, Liverpool started to sputter.  They maintained healthy possession through the first 35 minutes, and then Wigan remembered they were playing football.  They scored before the half, only to be called offside.  Liverpool went into the half 1-0, mostly on the back foot.  Fatigue looked like it was setting in for Liverpool, and the second half wasn’t any different.  Hugo Rodallega again found the back of the net for Wigan to level the scores.  The latter part of the game the fans began to turn on Hodgson, bringing off Kuyt for Poulsen.  Boos and chants of “attack, attack” were belted out by the travelling Kop.  The game ended 1-1, leaving Liverpool to ponder their stance on the season yet again.
On Saturday it was a trip to Stoke.  Liverpool needed to win.  With all other teams dropping points midweek and United once again slipping up, Liverpool could have found themselves as high fifth place, one point behind fourth place Manchester City.  In all honesty, it seemed that Liverpool forgot to even show up to the Brittania.  Liverpool were lackluster going forward,  Gerrard sitting deep in front of the back line, mostly because he had to.  Stoke were dangerous going forward, Jermaine Pennant running the wing very well and Kenwyne Jones is always a threat.  The first goal was about as ugly and scrappy as they come, and the second was just a cap on Stokes performance.  
I won’t make excuses for the performance, all credit to Tony Pulis and Stoke City.  But Liverpool’s lack of depth and talent is near appalling.  Lucas may have had a few good performances the past couple of weeks, but he has to go.  He gets bounced off the ball entirely too easy, and gives up stupid fouls.  Maxi should go as well.  Looking back at his goal against Bolton he was lucky to score that.  He had a one on one against Cech and didn’t take it, and could have scored against Wigan and Stoke but just can’t finish. 
We continue to waste the talent of Ryan Babel.  When Roy said he would give Babel a shot, did he mean on the field or a morale shot?  Because Ryan has hardly played since Roy arrived.  He was brought on against Stoke to the fans pleasure and showed flashes of his brilliance.  Liverpool have one of the brightest young stars in Dani Pacheco, who has hardly seen even the bench.  Shelvey has been getting some playing time, but he needs more.  The goal burden is once again piled on Torres’ shoulders, which I don’t believe he minds, but when you’re a world class striker not even being able to get a pass from other than one person, it gets frustrating.  Henry, Werner, and Comolli have a lot of convincing to do this winter and summer.  Liverpool can only move forward if they can hold on to Gerrard and Torres and build around them.  Things won’t get any easier for Liverpool, an international friendly midweek and back in action on Saturday, players are really going to have to show heart.  They need to get back the confidence they possessed against Chelsea.  Liverpool’s season would have looked much more promising sitting in fifth nine points of table toppers Chelsea.  Instead the Reds again find themselves mid-table.  A win can jump them up again, proving how tight things really are this season.

It's On

FERNANDO TORRES LIVERPOOL'S NUMBER 9.  That phrase could be heard all around Anfield this afternoon as El Nino ran rampant over Chelsea's defence.  When I woke up this morning, I just had that gut feeling that Liverpool were going to play big today.  And that they did.  From the start the Anfield faithful were in full voice.  Liverpool are finding a new sense of confidence in themselves, and the fans are feeding them even more.  Recent star man Kyrgiakos was out with an illness and Johnson was still battling an injury, but Kuyt was making his return.  Liverpool have missed is work ethic over the past month, and he was quickly causing problems for Chelsea.  Playing up front with Torres, Kuyt picked out a pass across the Chelsea defence to the Spaniards right foot, who was able to hold off John Terry and dink the ball past Cech, to open the scoring in the 11th minute.  It was just the start Roy Hodgson could have asked for, with John Henry in the stands again.  Liverpool continued to dominate the play, and Meireles found Torres on the outside of the box, who cut back and curled home what could easily be a goal of the season contender.  And the celebrations showed just how much things have improved at Liverpool.  Liverpool had to endure a desperate Chelsea in the second half, and the heroics of Pepe Reina(and Carragher) kept the clean sheet intact.  Liverpool gained another three points in the League, something that will surely put a smile on all of Anfield, players and fans alike.  Liverpool's revival continues to gain momentum, and looking down the fixture list, things should only get better.  Wigan and Stoke away, and a return to Anfield against West Ham, Liverpool will surely be looking forward to the rest of the month.  Torres today showed his former self, the player that obliterated defences in his first season, and won Euro 2008.  It will be a blow to Chelsea's confidence, but they are bound to bounce back.  They were not at full strength today, and it will be a relief to them when they can get their midfield back intact.  Liverpool now currently sit in ninth on 15 points, just two points out of fifth.  Liverpool got the points they so deserved, but Liverpool must continue to perform through the next three games.  Beating Chelsea may prove to be a turning point in not only Liverpool's season, but the league itself.  Chelsea seemed to be running away with their title, but with a red machine in full effect, the race for the title(and fourth place) have been busted wide open.

And so it begins...

Here we go.  Yet another unconvincing half at Anfield from Liverpool.  We just don't have the depth to compete, and this is the Europa League!  Gerrard was on the bench Thursday night for one reason and one reason only; save Roy Hodgson.  I can imagine Roy looked at Stevie in the locker room and simply said one thing, "Save us."  Not only did he come on as a sub ultimately to save the game, Gerrard's presence noticeably changed the entire morale of those currently on the field.  15 minutes to go, and Gerrard seemed to say enough is enough, and took the game into his own hands.  So many times throughout his career has Stevie put Liverpool on his shoulders and led them to the light.  Scoring a determined hattrick, Gerrard won that match for Liverpool, and ultimately, Roy Hodgson.  With John Henry and his wife sitting in the stands, Liverpool were in dire need to keep pressing results.  Sure the owners have stated their intent to stick with Hodgson, but with Henry's plan of a "fan's voice", I don't think Roy would have had much of chance had Liverpool fell to defeat again at home.  Liverpool enter the weekend in 13th on 12 points.  The situation is interesting, because, pending other results, a win could rocket Liverpool up the table to fifth.  Standing in their way of another three points; table toppers Chelsea. 
Sure the current state of affairs could suggest a rollover, but with Gerrard's never say die attitude and a returning to form Torres, this could be the turning point of the season.  If Liverpool win, not only will they be sky high in confidence, but they will be sitting just outside the top four, something surely to please the fans, the owners, Roy and Torres.  Liverpool will need to field their strongest XI this weekend to stand a chance against free running Chelsea.  The fans want to see attacking football, and the players do to.  It is time to unleash Gerrard, the only one seemingly on the team who can pick out a pass for Torres.  Will Roy take the chance and push forward.  For his sake, he should.  Every week is a new step of the "Red Revival" and it all begins again, this Sunday, at fortress Anfield.

Top O' The Table We Will Go!(????)

It wasn't the most convincing win in the Premier League, but Liverpool did what they had to do, WIN.  The game was really end to end stuff, with no goals to show for it.  Torres had a few chances, but his lack of playing time is still showing.  The thing is though, he's making chances, and taking them.  That brings a sigh of relief to all Liverpool fans.  Torres had the vision to spot Maxi's run and backheel him through on goal, where Maxi stabbed the ball off of Jaaskelainen, sealing another 3 points for Liverpool.  Liverpool have shot themselves up the table to 12th now, but the question at hand is, can they keep it rolling against Chelsea on Sunday.  It is almost certain that Roy will rest the big guns Thursday for the Europa League match.  Another question that arises however; Do you rest Torres, or give him another game to find his deadly rythm?(Rest him Roy, Chelsea is much more important!)  Roy should be giving the youngsters a chance this Thursday, they have been tidying things up quite well in Europe this season.  It would be encouraging to see Shelvey and Pacheco given starting spots, and N'Gog will surely lead the line.  Liverpool have to keep themselves confident, with Chelsea coming into town Sunday, a goalfest could be in the midst.  Liverpool have to make Anfield feared again, the fans have to get behind the Reds.  Two Liverpool wins at Anfield this week, and not only will Liverpool be sure to qualify for the Europa League knockout stages, but the table will be hit by an earthquake.
~YNWA~

Reds Revival? It starts with another three points!

Liverpool Football Club.  Five times European Champions.  18 League Titles.  Sure we have a rich and enviable history, but its 2010.  My dad witnessed Liverpool's dominance of England and Europe abroad.  He talks about how Anfield was feared across the country.  This day and age teams seem to be looking forward to the trip to Merseyside because a point at the very least is easily attainable.  At least, it was.

If Liverpool are to mount a challenge for anything, and by anything I mean a "top half of table finish" it is going to have to start Sunday on our trip to the Reebok.  Liverpool are coming off of the back of a good result last weekend, beating Blackburn 2-1.  Torres finally broke his goal drought and restored some relief in a side seemingly scraping for results at home.  Liverpool will have had a full 6 days without a match, so fitness levels should be on a high.  A healthy Torres means Liverpool goals, and hopefully Liverpool goals mean Liverpool wins!  Last season Bolton were ahead twice, Liverpool fighting back through Glen Johnson, Fernando Torres, and Steven Gerrard rifled home a winner.  Liverpool have to go into the Reebok Sunday with the attacking mentality they possessed against Blackburn.  Gerrard and Raul have to press forward, Torres needs to be fed.  He's hungry for goals, and the entire team has to buy into that attitude.  In all honesty, I don't care who scores Sunday, but I will accept nothing less than a win.  3 more points lost and not only will Roy Hodgson be losing grip on his post, but the players may surely want to leave theirs.