Report by Dave Usher at Anfield | |
When things aren't going too well, results haven't been great and performances have been patchy, a home game against Newcastle is just what the doctor ordered.
We always play well against the Geordies at Anfield, they're just tailor made for us. You'd think after all these years they'd have realised that maybe, just maybe, if they got themselves a couple of decent centre halves they wouldn't be such a soft touch.
But no, the 'toon' arrived in town with a centre back pairing of Robbie Elliot and, don't laugh, Titus Bramble. Game set and match Liverpool, who won comfortably without ever getting out of second gear.
In midweek I wrote that I felt Rafa Benitez got his team selection and tactics wrong for the Portsmouth game. Today he got it absolutely spot on. Mellor returned to the starting line up to partner Baros for the first time in a senior game, whilst Hamann was relegated to the bench after a series of indifferent displays.
The hapless Josemi was mercifully suspended, meaning we didn't have to worry about him making an untimely arrival, and Luis Garcia made a welcome return to the side after his injury layoff.
Garcia should have celebrated his return with a goal after only a couple of minutes, when Baros - who looked back to his brilliant self after a couple of games in which he had looked a bit off the pace - did brilliantly to reach the byline and cut the ball back into the Spaniard's path. However, Garcia's finish was typically wasteful, blasting the ball high over the bar.
The reds were knocking the ball about well, and the midfield combination of Alonso and Gerrard gave the side a balance which has been lacking in recent weeks. I'd go as far as to say that the team which started this game is the strongest available line up Benitez has at his disposal, even when everyone is available.
I'd maybe take Smicer over Garcia, but other than that this is what I believe is our best line up, certainly for home games. Mellor and Baros have played together at reserve level before and done well, and they look a well balanced combo. Mellor provides the physical presence and penalty box threat, which allows Baros to work the channels which he does so well.
Baros' running power and close control was giving the Geordies a lot of trouble, but Ameobi and Kluivert were enjoying some success of their own. They're both good players, and are both big, strong and hard to shake off the ball.
Carra had a few problems in the air and Hyypia was very shaky, especially in the first half. That said, the Geordies rarely threatened Dudek's goal until they went in front in controversial circumstances.
I haven't seen the goal on TV yet, but everyone I've spoken to who has says it was well offside. Just the latest in a long line of dodgy decisions we've had against us this season. This time last year, that would have been game over and a ready made excuse for the manager.
But things are different these days. There are some things which Rafa does which I don't particularly like, but those things are in the minority. Overall, the guy is doing a good job and has us playing some very nice football. One of the main things he has given us is the ability to respond to setbacks.
When we concede a goal these days, there's usually a positive response. Heads don't go down, and the players look to strike back immediately. That's what happened today.
Riise had shot inches wide, and Kewell would have been clean through had Garcia's pass been what it should have. It wasn't though, and it allowed a defender to get in ahead of the Aussie and concede a corner.
Gerrard delivered a wickedly inswinging kick, which was missed by Hyypia but thankfully not by the calamatous Bramble, who comically headed the ball past Given.
Mellor then shot tamely at Given from 20 yards when Baros was screaming for a pass, and when the Czech received possession just outisde the box not long after, I have to say I wasn't expecting him to play in his strike partner, but to his credit he played a perfect pass into Mellor's path, and the 'goal machine' did the rest with a classy sidefoot finish into the bottom corner.
Five goals for the season now from eight starts. A mate said to me afterwards that if we'd signed Morientes a month ago and he'd done what Mellor has, everyone would be going on about what a great player we'd signed. Yet the praise for Mellor isn't so forthcoming.
I can't help but wonder what these fans would think of John Aldridge if he had come on the scene now. 'No pace, he can't beat a man and his left foot isn't the best' I can hear them say. Some are still focussing on what Mellor can't do instead of appreciating what he can do, which is put the ball in the net.
Baros deserves great credit for the assist, but the finish bore all the hallmarks of a striker who knows just how to finish, and who is now starting to look very much at home at this level.
Milan spent most of this game complaining about not being given the ball, and I felt he overdid the moaning a little bit. He was particularly annoyed with Garcia, and whilst he may have had a case there was an element of toys being thrown out of prams.
I had a go at Cisse for doing that, so it's only fair I do the same with Milan. Seconds before the half time whistle blew, Garcia was played in and elected to shoot rather than look for Baros.
I actually felt he had little choice but to shoot, as Milan was marked fairly tightly. But the Czech was furious, throwing up his arms and screaming at Luis. When the whistle went, it continued, and even after Garcia had walked thirty yards to apologise and explain his actions to his team-mate, Milan was still bitching.
I thought it was a bit unnecessary, but you can't help but love Milan. He'd also had a go at Mellor for not playing him in, but it was noticable at the start of the second half when the players came out that Baros was encouraging Mellor and gave him a little pat on the back before the game got under way.
Baros admitted afterwards that he enjoys playing with Mellor, as he's at his best when playing alongside a central striker as that allows him a bit more space to work the channels. He looks great for the Czechs alongside Koller, so Mellor - but more likely Morientes - could be the ideal foil for him here.
Once again Milan was the victim of some very heavy challenges, and once more he also suffered from some bizarre refereeing decisions. But he just keeps on going, and got his reward when some wonderful play from Kewell sent him clear.
Given came out, but Milly skipped around him and slid the ball into the empty net. It was a great finish, but the goal was made by the skill and vision of Kewell. The turn and change of direction in midfield which opened up the space was absolute quality, and the pass which split the defence was even better.
Kewell has been improving by the week recently, and he showed some good things again in this game. His work rate has been better too, and when his name echoed around Anfield following Baros' goal, it was just reward for a wonderful piece of skill.
With a two goal cushion, Benitez elected to make some substitutions. Mellor was replaced by Sinama, and Garcia made way for Nunez. Flo had a strange cameo, as he'd go from one brilliant piece of skill to a clumsy touch within the space of seconds.
It was as though his brain was working too fast for his feet, although every time he lost the ball it somehow seemed to end up back at his feet. He looked to be trying a bit too hard to impress, which is not the worst crime a footballer can commit. Much rather that than have someone who isn't arsed.
Traore replaced Kewell late on, and it was significant that Benitez left Riise in the back four and put Djimi on the wing. Having changed the back four against Pompey, Rafa clearly didn't want to make the same mistake twice, and it's nice to see him not repeating mistakes.
Newcastle never looked like getting back into the game, as Carragher excelled in the second half and Hyypia settled down after his below par opening period.
Robert went closest for the Geordies with a rasping free-kick which Dudek did well to tip over, whilst Jenas blasted over the bar following some slack Liverpool defending from a set piece.
Any hope the visitors had of getting back into the game went when Bowyer was dismissed for a second yellow card after a reckless challenge of Flo. At the time I thought he was a little hard done by, but it turns out I was the only one, as even Souness had no complaints and apprently apologised for it in the after match press conference!
The most pleasing aspect of this win for me was that we did it with relative ease. We didn't need Gerrard to be at his brilliant best, and he was just another player today. It was a good team display, in which the skipper played his part without being a one man show.
Playing him in an advanced role behind a lone striker has been a relative success, but we tend to go through him a bit too much at times when we play that way. Today he still got forward, but we had a better shape to the team with him in the middle with the excellent Alonso.
A word too on Finnan, who once again had an impressive game at right back. He's got quick feet, and seems to be very aware of his responsibilities. His crossing is useful too, and one right wing delivery which almost resulted in a breathtaking overhead goal from Milan was pure quality.
With him in the side, Carragher can just get on with his own game without having to worry about babysitting the right back.
It hasn't been a good week for the reds, but it ended on a relative high and we can go into christmas feeling a bit better about things. This time last week we were 12 points behind you know who. Now, we're nine points behind, with a couple of 'should win' fixtures coming up before we face the knobs from the King's Road on New Years Day.
I just hope that Rafa doesn't make too many changes in the next few games, as generally the players he can bring in are not of the standard of the ones they are replacing. Maybe in the months ahead he'll be able to do some rotating depending on who we bring in in January, for the time being I pray he leaves well enough alone.
Team: Dudek; Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise; Garcia (Nunez) Gerrard, Alonso, Kewell (Traore); Baros, Mellor (Sinama-Pongolle):
Agree or disagree? Email me at dave@liverpoolway.co.uk
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