Liverpool 2 – 1 Middlesborough
“Below-par Liverpool steal win against North-East rivals… Mark II” seemed to be the press consensus after this game. I’m not going to get into accusations of bias, but simply state that I disagree.
For a start there was a clear difference in the standard of the opposition. We made a poor Sunderland side look more dangerous than they are. Here we face a Middlesborough that on it’s day can take it to anyone, and that’s just what they did. Downing, Tuncay and the new slimline Mido GTI showed the sort of class that would be welcome in shirts the right shade of Red and to a man we were made to work hard and this we did. Middlesborough created in quality, we returned fire in quantity creating far more chances. Sure mostly half chances, but still chances.
Throughout there was a battling passion it would be great to see present at every Anfield fixture this season. Robbie Keane had his best game yet in a Liverpool shirt. He might still be waiting for his first goal, but he’s off the mark with perfect a assist for Gerrard’showitzer.
Middlesborough can rightly feel gutted to come away empty handed, they thoroughly deserved Mido’s opener. Yet I’m reminded of Robbie Fowler’s injury time winner against Crystal Palace in the 1st Leg of the 1995 League Cup Semi-Final. It won the game at the death, just as Gerrard did here. My point being that goals in injury time are no less deserved that those scored before the 90 minute mark, they’re just often more valuable!
I’ve mostly glossed over the negatives. The lack of direction in the passing, a lacklustre showing from Xabi and the very nearly massive howler from Pepe. Why? Because overall we showed just enough promise to be optimistic. Which is more than can be said about the Villa game…
Karl
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