This was a game which I was not looking forward to. Although technically we still had something to play for (second place), the atmosphere outside the ground was very flat. It reminded me of THAT game with Leicester abour four years ago, when the mancs were winning away at Juve and we lost to a late, late goal from Ian Marshall of all people. That has to be the worst game I've ever been to, and to be honest, I sensed something similar could happen against Rovers. The Tottenham game knocked all the stuffing out of me, and it was hard to motivate myself for this one. If the players felt the same, we'd be in trouble, and if I'm honest I was expecting a dour, dull, uninspiring game where we'd be lucky to come away with a 1-0 (a draw would have been my prediction). I was wrong, very wrong. It was an excellent game, hugely entertaining, as Rovers played with a freedom that only teams with no pressure on them can produce. They were excellent, and can feel a little hard done by that they went home with nothing.
When we took the lead early on through SuperDan, no-one could have expected what was to come. The usual pattern for our games seems to be we score early, and then just sit back until we eventually get the 2nd just before the end. We don't usually let a lead slip, just as we don't ever come from behind to win. Yet we let the lead slip on three occasions in this game, and it was definitely shades of Alaves about it. Fitting really, as the UEFA Cup Final was actually being played on the same night over in Rotterdam.
The team selection was positive, with Anelka, Owen and Heskey all starting, and Riise reverting to an attacking left back role at the expense of Xavier, who'd been shite at Spurs (he wasn't alone though to be fair). Carra started at right back (in front of the watching Erikson - but more on him later), with Heskey in front of him and Murphy on the left.
Danny started well and was involved in all of our best moves, whilst Anelka was looking really sharp, despite the disappointment of missing out on a World Cup spot. The opening goal was a strange one, and owed more than a little to good fortune, as Danny swung at the ball as he lay on the floor, and it took a slight deflection of Short to beat Alan Kelly in the Rovers goal. Credit to Danny for his initiative though, and also credit to Riise for his assist.
There was nothing lucky about Rovers' equaliser however. Damien Duff - who was excellent on the night - played a series of one two's to leave our defence helpless before beating Jerzy with a shot that went through a crowd of defenders. Jerzy got a hand to it, but probably didn't see it til it was too late. The best goal scored by an away side at Anfield this season? Off the top of my head I can't think of one better. I don't think the defence could have anything to stop it really, as when the ball is moved around so quickly it's hard to prevent.
It didn't take long for us to regain the lead though, and again it was Riise who was the provider. He found Anelka on the edge of the box, and the brilliant young Frenchman did the rest. The cynics claimed that Anelka was only using the reds to secure his world cup place. They said he had no interest in making the move to Anfield permanent. Strange then that he should turn in such a fine performance when the world cup place had already gone. Nico said today that he wants to play for Liverpool for many years to come, but it's down to Gerard to decide if he wants him or not.
The press are saying the problem is down to his wages, but I find this hard to believe. Since when have Liverpool haggled over money? We always look after players, and pay the going rate. We're not Everton for God's sake! As I see it, the problem is that GH wants Cisse. He's his number one target, and if he can't get him then he'll sign Anelka. I feel for Nico, as I believe he's done enough to earn a permanent move, and if Cisse is true to his word and stays in France for another year, then hopefully Nico will get his wish.
If we get Cisse, great. If we don't, then it has to be Anelka. We're getting linked with Kanoute again, but for me he's just a more skilful, but more injury prone version of Heskey. He won't score enough goals to take the pressure of Michael, and isn't as good as Anelka. Besides, if we don't sign Anelka, the chances are Arsenal will, and that in itself is enough reason to get him. Add Anelka to Henry, Bergkamp, Pires and Ljungberg and they'd be unstoppable.
But anyway, I've been sidetracked there, back to the game. 2-1 at half time then, but the mancs were drawing, which given their superior goal difference was no good to us whatsoever. We needed Arsenal to win, and we had to make sure we won ourselves, which given the way the 1st half had gone was not a formality.
Blackburn had looked really good, and even Andy Cole was having a good game! So much so that he actually scored a header at the Kop end. Considering some of the sitters he's missed at that end down the years, it was something of a shock that he actually scored. Again though, it was an excellent goal from their point of view. This time though, we should have done much better defensively. Riise got skinned twice by Lucas Neill, and the marking on Cole was non existant. To top it all off, Jerzy got both hands to the header and should have kept it out. We can forgive him this one lapse though after the season he's had.
So 2-2, and second place was not looking too good. Then up pops Sami to head home a perfectly flighted Murphy free-kick (they've been a notable feature this season) and the news comes through that Arsenal have scored. All of a sudden there's a bit of noise. The Anny Road starts to sing "1-0 to the Arsenal" and the Kop got all pissed off about it, and started singing "Liverpool." Now I can see both sides to this particular difference of opinion. Had the chant been "Who the fuck are Man United", or "Stand up if you hate Man U" then I'd have frowned upon it as much as anyone, but the chant was more ironic than anything else, and quite funny I thought. The sad part about it was that it took a goal for Arsenal to get the crowd going.
The the unthinkable happened. Blackburn equalised for the third time. Again, it was a good goal, this time finished off by Matt Jansen. Cue more chants from the visitors of "Jansen for England" and "Are you watching Erikson." The only answer I can give them is "No, he wasn't watching." That's the only explanation for him leaving out Murphy from his 23 named the day after the game. I also don't think he'd have picked Carra, and the knee injury just gave everyone a convenient way out. As far as I'm concerned England and Erikson can go fuck themselves. Half of you will think I'm a prick for saying this, but I know there'll be plenty who agree with me when I say I hope England get their arses kicked in Japan and are on the first plane back home. As long as our lads do well and stay injury free, that's all I'm concerned about, and when Argentina stuff them, I'll be pissing myself. Sven's judgement of players is as suspect as his judgement of women, and if Murphy isn't in the squad, they can go to hell.
Now that I've got that off my chest I'll get back to the report. Where was I? Ah yes, 3-3. At that point I just didn't see us getting a winner. I thought we'd blown it, and I was thinking to myself "Bloody typical." Xavier's introduction didn't exactly inspire me with confidence either, although to be fair the change indirectly led to the winner, as Carra - switched to the left following the substituion - steamed in to win possession, and then played a ball across the box to Heskey. Now Emile had done next to nothing up to this point, but he more than redeemed himself with the type of turn and shot which he should be producing all the time. You see him do something like this and it just makes it all the more frustrating when you think how infrequently he produces it.
Anyway, despite a lot of pressure, this time Rovers couldn't come back. Full credit to them though, they had us penned back and played some excellent football. Luckily for us their defence is crap (well it does contain Henning Berg and Craig Short at the heart of it!), and we picked up the three points. Now we just need to beat Ipswich on Saturday to be sure of second spot. We should do it, but I'm not counting any chickens yet.
As for the star man, it wasn't easy. I thought Henchoz was brilliant in the first half, and overall don't remember him doing a lot wrong, but the defence let three in, so I couldn't give him the star man could I? Dany worked hard, scored one, made one and had a fine game, but I'd have to say that along with Steph, Anelka was the best player on the pitch. A constant danger, he's simply a joy to watch. He scored one, went close with another brilliant rasping left footer, and produced the pass of the match to set Riise clear, only for the Norwegian to blast his shot narrowly over. Would have been a brilliant goal had he been able to finish it.
So with one game left we're on the verge of second place. Not what we were hoping for, but all things considered, it would be a fine achievement if we can clinch it. Arsenal fully deserve to finish top, as the run they've been on is phenomenal. To score in every game and go a whole season unbeaten away from home is proof that they are worthy champions, and they are the yardstick we have to aim for now.
Team: Jerzy Dudek; Jamie Carragher, Stephane Henchoz, Sami Hyypia, John Arne Riise; Emile Heskey, Steven Gerrard, Didi Hamann (Abel Xavier), Danny Murphy; Michael Owen (Vladimir Smicer), Nicolas Anelka:
