RSS
ATOM
advertisement
Liverpool Comment: Wigan Defeat Is Lowest Moment Of A Wretched Season
Race for fourth looking bleak as Reds plumb new depths...
| Bet: | Returns: | Man Utd. £18.33 | Draw £35.00 | Liverpool £42.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Man Utd. £18.00 | Draw £33.00 | Liverpool £38.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Man Utd. £18.33 | Draw £36.00 | Liverpool £43.33 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Man Utd. £18.30 | Draw £36.00 | Liverpool £43.30 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Man Utd. £18.60 | Draw £33.00 | Liverpool £38.50 |
|
Mar 8, 2010 10:55:00 PM
By Neil Jones | Liverpool Correspondent
Liverpool's hopes of securing a top-four finish this season are hanging by a thread after Rafael Benitez's blundering side served up the worst performance in a season of strong contenders.
Most had guessed that Liverpool's abject surrender at crisis-ridden Portsmouth in December or their FA Cup humiliation to Reading in January would be the nadir of a season in which Benitez's furrowed brow and disbelieving stare have become part of the Anfield furniture, but this surrender to a superbly energetic and completely deserving Wigan Athletic side must surely rank as a new low.
Liverpool were, in a word, pathetic. Their supporters may point out that on another night Fernando Torres may have had a hat-trick, having spurned a succession of presentable chances either side of half-time, but to do so is to ignore the bigger issues which are blighting the Reds' season.
Torres' evening mirrored Liverpool's, early rustiness quickly turned into downright ineptitude, and ended in petulance. For the second league game in three, Liverpool collected five bookings. They can expect a letter from the FA for their disciplinary issues, but they should be receiving another for their performance. If that wasn't 'bringing the game into disrepute', then nothing is.
Wigan, by contrast, were everything you would expect from a side battling relegation in front of their own fans. Roberto Martinez can be rightly proud of his struggling side, who matched their illustrious guests from the first minute, and who were excellent value for their victory - their first ever against their Merseyside visitors, and only their second ever against a 'Big Four' club. But for his countryman Benitez, the aftermath will cast a far harsher light.
Benitez was angered by Blackburn Rovers' perceived spoiling tactics at Anfield last weekend, with some justification, but he can have no such complaints about Martinez's charges, who achieved their goals through smart passing, intelligent movement and a well-crafted Hugo Rodallega goal. In short, they produced the kind of display that a side chasing Champions League football should be able to muster, even away from home.
That Liverpool couldn't, that they failed to force Chris Kirkland into getting his knees dirty, that it took more than an hour, and the introduction of Alberto Aquilani, for them to string any sort of cohesive passing move together, will sicken their supporters, who travelled to Lancashire with optimism ahead of a testing Europa League trip to Lille.
A run of one defeat in 10 league games had reignited hope that spring would prove to be Red after a desperately blue winter, but it seems that little has changed at Anfield, despite constant reassurances from inside the camp. Turning corners every week will only lead you back to where you started, after all.
They have already surrendered the initiative in the race for fourth - Tottenham and Manchester City remain a point clear, having played less games, whilst Aston Villa now boast three games in hand - and even a favourable run of fixtures offers few guarantees between now and May.
Benitez bristled after the game when asked about his side's shortcomings, offering only sombre responses to inevitable questions. It was probably for the best - if he had gone into detail about this display we would probably still be waiting for him to finish.
Liverpool's hopes of securing a top-four finish this season are hanging by a thread after Rafael Benitez's blundering side served up the worst performance in a season of strong contenders.
Most had guessed that Liverpool's abject surrender at crisis-ridden Portsmouth in December or their FA Cup humiliation to Reading in January would be the nadir of a season in which Benitez's furrowed brow and disbelieving stare have become part of the Anfield furniture, but this surrender to a superbly energetic and completely deserving Wigan Athletic side must surely rank as a new low.
Liverpool were, in a word, pathetic. Their supporters may point out that on another night Fernando Torres may have had a hat-trick, having spurned a succession of presentable chances either side of half-time, but to do so is to ignore the bigger issues which are blighting the Reds' season.
Torres' evening mirrored Liverpool's, early rustiness quickly turned into downright ineptitude, and ended in petulance. For the second league game in three, Liverpool collected five bookings. They can expect a letter from the FA for their disciplinary issues, but they should be receiving another for their performance. If that wasn't 'bringing the game into disrepute', then nothing is.
Wigan, by contrast, were everything you would expect from a side battling relegation in front of their own fans. Roberto Martinez can be rightly proud of his struggling side, who matched their illustrious guests from the first minute, and who were excellent value for their victory - their first ever against their Merseyside visitors, and only their second ever against a 'Big Four' club. But for his countryman Benitez, the aftermath will cast a far harsher light.
Benitez was angered by Blackburn Rovers' perceived spoiling tactics at Anfield last weekend, with some justification, but he can have no such complaints about Martinez's charges, who achieved their goals through smart passing, intelligent movement and a well-crafted Hugo Rodallega goal. In short, they produced the kind of display that a side chasing Champions League football should be able to muster, even away from home.
That Liverpool couldn't, that they failed to force Chris Kirkland into getting his knees dirty, that it took more than an hour, and the introduction of Alberto Aquilani, for them to string any sort of cohesive passing move together, will sicken their supporters, who travelled to Lancashire with optimism ahead of a testing Europa League trip to Lille.
A run of one defeat in 10 league games had reignited hope that spring would prove to be Red after a desperately blue winter, but it seems that little has changed at Anfield, despite constant reassurances from inside the camp. Turning corners every week will only lead you back to where you started, after all.
They have already surrendered the initiative in the race for fourth - Tottenham and Manchester City remain a point clear, having played less games, whilst Aston Villa now boast three games in hand - and even a favourable run of fixtures offers few guarantees between now and May.
Benitez bristled after the game when asked about his side's shortcomings, offering only sombre responses to inevitable questions. It was probably for the best - if he had gone into detail about this display we would probably still be waiting for him to finish.
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
|
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
43 Comments
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
Fabio Capello & FA differ on public perception
The governing body played the populist game and lost a manager who still had English football's best interests at heart but would not accept responsibility without command
-
The top 20 clubs in football's money league
Deloitte's annual publication of the richest sides in football sees a familiar Spanish duo stretch their advantage over England's finest in 2010-11
-
How Capello's exit will affect England's players
As the national team enters a new era, we take a look at the players who are now destined for big things and those potentially heading for the scrapheap under a new boss
-
Cartoon: Redknapp sentenced to England service
Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day ...
-
The list of clubs that could try to sign Capello
Now that the Italian is no longer the England head coach, it is likely that a number of high-profile clubs from across Europe and elsewhere will make an attempt to lure him
Advertisement
Advertisement
