From Kopblog
Now that the distraction of international football is out of the way, we can focus back on the really important stuff as the Premiership returns this weekend and there`s no tougher way for us to get things started again then a game against the mancs.
Saturday is a red letter day and an early test of our credentials as a serious contender in the Premiership this season. I always try to be optimistic about our chances in these games but given our past record against them, I find it hard to feel too confident about our prospects of taking all three points. I support Rafa and think that he has done a great job for us overall, but there`s no doubt that the biggest black spot on his record since his arrival at Anfield has been our results against our main rivals in the Premiership, most particularly the mancs.
In the eight league games we`ve played against each of them since 2004, our record against Arsenal is 50/50 as it stands at 3 wins – 2 draws – 3 defeats, against the chavs we`ve got 1 win – 2 draws – 5 defeats and against our biggest rivals the mancs, our miserable record is 1 draw and 7 defeats. While our results against the Arse may be in the OK range, our results in the league against the chavs and most definitely the mancs up to now have been clearly pathetic and not nearly good enough for a side with aspirations of challenging for the title and I think it`s high time for the boss to adopt a different approach to these games.
This need not be a radical change of approach but it certainly needs to be a more positive one. Our goals at the Bridge in last season`s CL semi was the first time we`d managed to put the ball into the chavs net in 8 or 9 visits there over the past 4 seasons and in our 8 league games against the mancs, home and away, the only goal we`ve managed to score against them was a bloody OG! These facts are a big fat clue about where we are going wrong. Clearly the over-cautious and defensive approach we usually take in these games is not yielding results and it`s time to loosen the shackles.
What pisses me off the most about our poor league results against these sides is that we`ve regularly shown in the cup competitions that we are well capable of competing and usually beating them and that`s the approach we`ve got to start bringing in to our league encounters. A cup-tie is a winner take all situation and in such one-off circumstances Rafa`s game plan is usually spot on. In those type of games the team normally remains defensively sound but still manages to attack and get a goal or two. Of course, we don`t always win our cup games against the top sides but our record in them is a damn sight better then our league one.
In the league there is a subtle but very important difference in our play. Unlike in cup games, in league games there are two prizes available. If you win you get the top prize of three points but if you don`t win and are also able to prevent the opposition from winning, then you get a consolation prize of one point and that seems to be the root of our problem. If we were playing the mancs in a cup game tomorrow I`d be more optimistic about our chances but when it`s a league game we seem to be far more negative in our play.
In these games we often seem to be more interested in stopping the opposition from playing than we are in playing ourselves. Our focus tends to be more towards us taking a point than it is toward us winning all three and, as our past record shows all too clearly, when you set yourself up like that you run the risk of finishing with nothing.
If we are serious about truly challenging for the Premiership then we`ve got to put more emphasis on attacking these teams and doing everything we can to ensure we take all three points. If we are ever going to be champions than we`ve got to have the attitude of champions and a draw against any team anywhere should always be viewed as two points dropped never one point gained.
Reports ahead of tomorrow`s game say that Torres and Gerrard are fit enough to play which is a big boost for us and now that we have a fully fit squad there should be no excuse for us not to take the game to them. I think our defence will be pretty much the same as ever, the only argument being whether Aurelio or Dossena will start at left back. At the moment there isn`t really a lot to choose between them.
Dossena has been improving with every game and I just have a feeling that he will turn out to be a very good player for us, but he is a bit of a fiery character and was apparently sent off five times last season in Italy and as he would be likely to be up against ape boy tomorrow, who of course can never ever be sent off any more, things could get a little tasty. So, I think I`d opt for Aurelio as he has a calmer head and is also the best crosser of a ball we have, which could be useful when he comes forward.
But it`s our midfield and forward line that is the most interesting as there are a number of different options we could go with. In an ideal world I would like to see Gerrard and Masch in the middle, Riera on the left, Babel on the right and Torres and Keane up top, but I don`t think Rafa will be so bold. Assuming everyone is fit, I think we can be certain that the boss will play Kuyt on the right and we know Gerrard and Masch will be in the middle but then things become less certain.
He could play Alonso and revert back to his 4-2-3-1 system of last season with Torres upfront on his own and Keane on the bench but I`d prefer us to keep that option until we play them at their place, so I`m thinking/hoping he will go with the 4-4-2 and give their defence a few more problems to worry about. The only question that would leave is who will play on the left?
I really hope he doesn`t go with Benny Onion again, I like the guy and think he might have a role to play in our squad but not on the left, any time he plays out there he has a nightmare. So for me it`s got to be Babel or Riera. I realise it would be tough for Riera to make his debut in such a game but I`m curious to see what he can do for us on the left so I`m hoping he gets a run out and Babel comes on as an impact sub later in the game.
A win tomorrow would be huge for us. It would not only bring us three points but also boost the confidence and belief of the players and the supporters, which could be just as important. Even at this early stage of the season, a victory for us would put enormous pressure on the mancs. It would leave us 6 points in front of them and our next game is at home to Stoke while they have to travel to Stamford Bridge so that gap has the potential to become a lot wider.
However, to be totally honest I can`t get some of our past performances against them and in our recent game at Villa Park out of my head. So if I had to put my money down, my head is telling me this is going to be a 0-0. But my heart is telling me Robbie Keane is going to ram Ferguson`s words back down his throat by nicking us a goal in a 1-0 win, either way I confidently predict none of us are going to have any fingernails left after this one!
Keep the Faith
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