A disappointing result, but by no means a bad performance. It's frustrating that we didn't beat the cheating Turks, but on this evidence there's no reason why we can't go over there and win, giving us four points from the two games, which we would have taken before this game I'm sure. Given our outstanding away record, we have nothing to fear over there, and a win would put us right back on track for a place in the quarters. Gala only managed one serious attempt on target, despite a bright start which had given the impression they'd come here to do more than just defend. As it turned out, the only intention they had was to frustrate us and to go home with a point, no matter how it was achieved. They got the point, but the diving and playacting won them few friends. Still, why should they care about that, they seem to revel in being disliked.
After scoring ten goals in our last two games, it was sod's law that we'd draw a blank, and so it proved. God knows how though, as we created enough chances to have won five games, and we've played a lot worse than this and won this season.
Brilliant goalkeeping, bad luck and poor finishing was the reason we didn't claim maximum points, but the performance was encouraging I'd say. We weren't 'magnificent' as Thommo yet again claimed (it's becoming really embarrassing hearing him say that EVERY week), but we were pretty good and should have won comfortably.
Didi Hamann did everything but score, as he peppered the goal of Gala's Colombian keeper Mondragon. He was the reds star performer yet again, as he totally bossed the midfield and got forward to good effect. Usually the sight of Didi lining up a free kick is enough to have the fans behind the goal running for cover, but recently his long range shooting has been reminiscent of his days at Newcastle when he was known as a dead ball specialist. He produced a series of long range efforts in this game, every one of them dangerous. Could be worth a bet for the first goal in the derby on saturday on this form I'd say.
Riise also went close from distance, his stinging free kick being brilliantly palmed away by Mondragon. The only concern at this stage was that all of our best efforts were from long range, and we weren't getting in behind them at all. As the half wore on though the pressure on the visitors goal became intense.
Sami should have done a hell of a lot better than he did when he rose unchallenged to meet Didi's inswinging free kick. He barely made contact and Mondragon was able to tip the ball onto the post. Had Sami made better contact with it the keeper would have had no chance. Corners and long throws were giving the Turks real problems, and it seemed only a matter of time before we made the breakthrough.
Owen rose unchallenged and nodded the ball into the danger area, and after Sami just couldn't reach it the ball dropped at Heskey's feet no more than two yards from goal. Unbelievably, the defender on the line managed to get a block in, but Emile should have reacted quicker than he did and not allowed the defender a chance to get near it. When things like that happen you start to wonder if it's going to be one of those nights, but there was still plenty of time left so no need to panic.
Chris Kirkland was having an easy baptism into European football, but the amount of time he was taking with his goal kicks was seriously pissing me off, not to mention the Portuguese ref who had to keep telling him to get a move on. This continued into the second half, and it could be that his ankle injury has not quite healed 100%, as whenever he could he was looking to take short goal kicks, and a couple of times it got us in trouble. The one time Kirkland was called into action though he didn't let us down, producing a good low save early in the first half. As highly as I rate Kirkland, I really hope Jerzy is back for the derby, as for me there's no better keeper anywhere than the Big Pole in our Goal.
The best chance of the half fell to the impressive Danny Murphy, but unfortunately he scuffed his shot wide in front of the Kop. Cue the usual tossers getting on his back. Prior to that the lad had been faultless (and one long range blast was inches away from being a goal of the season contender), but you just know that the wankers are waiting for their opportunity to have a pop, and when it arrived they were ready. Some pricks sitting a few rows back from me were giving him all kinds of stick after that miss, and it's no surprise that for the next ten minutes or so Danny's chin was on the floor and he hardly did anything right. He recovered though, and I thought he was one of our better players on the night.
The cause also wasn't helped by Stevie G being stretchered off. There was a collective "Oh shit!" around the whole stadium when he stayed down after overstretching for a ball, and if he's out for any length of time we're in trouble. Gary Mac replaced him, and just as he has been all season, was a yard off the pace. It's easy to put Gary Mac's poor form down to him being too old, but it could just be that he's playing badly. By rights he was too old last season, but he proved everyone wrong (me especially), and hopefully he can do it again. I'm not holding my breath though, and let's pray that Gerrard isn't out for long.
More chances came and went, but the longer it went on it became obvious that the goal wasn't going to come. When Heskey hit the bar with a close range header, that was when I knew it wasn't going to be our night. I've heard people saying it was a bad miss and he should have scored, but I thought he did well to come as close as he did, as the ball arrived at him very quickly and he had no time to react. It was a good effort and was just unlucky. The story of our night really.
Owen had a couple of half chances, one from a fabulous move which deserved a goal. Michael looked sharp, particularly in the second half, and I reckon he'll cause them loads of problems next week, as he'll get a lot more room over there.
Smicer's introduction gave us something different down the left, but by this stage Gala were well set in their defensive mode and did well to be fair to them. There was always the threat of a counter attack, but Sami & Steph were on top form as usual, and Kirkland had an easy night.
So overall, I was fairly pleased with the performance, although the passing could have been better and we were a bit too edgy at times. Nonetheless, they're a decent side, yet we created a stackful of chances against them and they offered no threat of their own. We're bottom of the group, but only three points off the top. Realistically, we need two wins and a draw from our next three games. A tall order but not impossible, especially given our excellent away from.
TEAM: Chris Kirkland; Abel Xavier, Stephane Henchoz, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher (Vladimir Smicer); Danny Murphy, Steven Gerrard (Gary McAllister) Didi Hamann, John Arne Riise; Michael Owen, Emile Heskey:
