If I had to choose one word to sum up this performance, it would have to be 'shit.' Harsh? I don't think so. The first half was arguably the most disappointing display I've seen in a long time, mainly due to the fact that our only method of attack seemed to be the ale-house ball up to Heskey, and we were relying very heavily on Riise's throws and Gary mac's set pieces (which after looking pretty dangerous last week at Chelsea, were back to their usual ineffective standard). I can handle us losing, I can handle us playing badly, but seeing us resort to just hoofing balls up to Heskey in the forlorn hope that Owen would get on the end of a flick on is unacceptable. It's not Emile's fault, and I'm not having a go at him here (there's enough people on his back without me adding to it), but his presence in the side does seem to encourage others to take the easy option and just hit it long. It's a articular problem when things aren't going too well and confidence is sagging.
In contrast to that, you have Jari Litmanen. At half time I was desperately hoping that both Jari and Vladi would be brought on, and I was pleasantly surprised when my hopes were realised. I thought at the time that Thommo must have been thinking along the same lines as me and wanted us to get the ball down and pass it, but it turns out that Emile was injured, and had he not been the second half may well have been no different to the first, but we'll never know that I suppose.
Jari made an immediate difference, and was my star man by a country mile. There wasn't a Liverpool player on the field who even came close to reaching the level of performance of the Mighty Mullet, and it was fitting that it was he who scored our only goal. He's always linked up well with Vladi, and they were our only hope of getting back into this game. If we are to get out of this mini-slump before it becomes a real crisis, then these two need to be starting every week.
Of course, it will be great to have Didi back from suspension, as one point from nine in the games he's missed (added to the 3-1 loss to Barca) tells it's own story. Hamann has become as important to the side as Hyypia and Owen, and he's been badly missed.
On the subject of Michael, this is the quietest game I've ever seen him have. He must have only had about five touches all game, and still nearly scored from two of them! When he got the ball he looked razor sharp, but then he'd go half an hour before he saw it again. It's easy to blame a lack of service, but there was more to it than that. I watched him closely, and it's not an exaggerration to say that he didn't come deep to look for the ball once. Not only that, but he didn't run into the channel between cenrtre back and full back either. He played in a twenty yard strip in the centre of the field, and rarely (if ever) ventured from it.
That isn't a criticism of Michael, as his work rate has never been in question, and I'm 100% certain that he was playing to orders. It could be that the idea was for him to keep Keown and Campbell occupied which would allow space for others, or it could be that his fitness wasn't quite right, I don't know. I doubt if we'll ever see him have a quiter game though, and if he plays at Villa Park on Boxing Day, I wouldn't want to be the Villa defender having to mark him.
Anyway, we can have no complaints about the result, and credit to Arsenal, they were fully worth the three points, and even being down to ten men didn't make a difference to them really. I thought the sending off was harsh at the time, but I haven't seen the replays and it could be that the ref was right. However, having booked Van Bronckhurst for diving, he then ignored a far more blatant one from Pires. No consistency.
As for our 'goal' which never was, I haven't seen that on TV either, although I have been told that it looked well over the line. I've got no complaints over it though, as shit happens, and we didn't deserve anything from the game anyway. It could be argued that Jerzy was lucky to stay on when he gave away the pen. Personally I think the pen was enough punishment, but there are refs who would have made him walk.
Henry's penalty was superb, and to be fair they probably deserved the lead, as despite the fact that they had created little, they were at least playing football and not hoping to get something from a set piece. Going one down wasn't a huge problem, as surely we could pull that back against ten men? When the second one went in though, it was time to start worrying.
It came from a bad pass from Gerrard, who was then skinned by Pires before "Right Said Fred" nipped in at the near post to finish smartly (just what is it with us and this sudden 'generosity to fags' attitude? Le Saux last week, Ljungberg today. I'm just glad we don't have to face Abel Xavier next game!) Stevie had a game he'll want to forget, and gave possession away with some awful passes. In between those bad passes though, he did pretty well, and I just hope he doesn't let his confidence get affected by it.
His head went down at one point, but Sami was straight over there with an arm around his shoulder, and the Kop responded by chanting Stevie's name. It was the loudest chant of the day, and it was probably the only good thing to come out of the game as far as I'm concerned. The atmosphere was crap considering how big a game it was, and the whole day had something of a surreal feel to it I thought. Owen not getting a kick, Stevie G giving the ball away all the time, Paddy not being able to hit a cows arse with a banjo.... It was just a strange day.
No doubt the panic merchants will be out in force after this, but it's not the end of the world, there's still plenty of games to go and we're very well placed. We've hit a bit of a rocky patch, but every team does at some stage of the season, and if we can get something at Villa Park we'll be back on course.
There's a lot of talk that new boy Nicolas Anelka will partner Owen at Villa Park. God I hope so. That would be a hell of a partnership. However, in order for it to work they'll need a little something called 'service.' Something which most of our midfielders don't seem too familiar with. Paddy and Stevie G are not in the best of form (they're not far off, but just aren't quite firing at the moment), Murphy seems to have become an automatic choice these days, which should not be the case, and Gary Mac has been largely ineffective all season.
This is why Thommo and GH need to abandon their cautious approach and play Jari behind TWO strikers. The signings of Baros and Anelka has cast a huge shadow over Jari's future, but realistically it shouldn't make any difference, as he is more suited to playing as an attacking midfielder anyway. I've backed almost every decision made by GH and Thommo, and even those I didn't agree with I haven't kicked up too much of a fuss, but if Jari is the one who gets pushed out to make way for the new arrivals then I will be hugely disappointed in them.
There is a time and a place for the direct approach, and it has served us well at times, but if we are to win the title then a more adventurous style of play will be needed, particularly at home. In an ideal world we would see a midfield diamond of Hamann, Gerrard, Paddy/Vladi/Murphy (depending on form) with Jari playing behind Anelka and Owen.
Jari has proved time and again this season how good he is. He was sensational against Arsenal I thought, and couldn't have done any more than he did. If he is left out at Villa Park, then it just isn't right. It's time to really go out and grab this league by the scruff of the neck. It's there for the taking, but we need to be more positive. He who dares and all that.
I'll finish off by wishing you all a Merry Christmas. Recent results may have put a dampener on the festive season, but if you look at the overall picture things ain't so bad. I've asked Santa for three points on Boxing Day, so hopefully he'll come up with the goods.
Oh, and in case you were wondering what my thought on the Anelka signing are, I'm absolutely made up, and really excited by it. I don't care about his reputation, because a) if he starts playing up we can send him packing, b) I don't think he will play up because he knows he's running out of chances. Besides, he'll be appreciated here and will be therefore be happy, and c) Gerard has obviously spoken with him and assessed his state of mind. GH knows the lad, and knows about all of his past problems. If GH isn't worried about it, why should we be?
TEAM: Jerzy Dudek; Jamie Carragher, Stephane Henchoz, Sami Hyypia, John Arne Riise; Danny Murphy, Steven Gerrard, Gary McAllister (Vladimir Smicer), Patrik Berger, Michael Owen, Emile Heskey (Jari Litmanen):
