I would have liked to have written a simple match report here today. How Liverpool drew yet another match. How Liverpool squandered yet more chances. How Liverpool have yet again failed to maintain momentum against the “top” sides. Unfortunately the beautiful game has been overshadowed yet again.

First I’ll begin with an attempt at a match report. Basically, Liverpool failed to maintain the pressure on the Premiership’s leading pack last night after a 0-0 draw at the DW Stadium against a spirited, but by no means unbeatable, Wigan side. It’s becoming all too familiar now. A missed Charlie Adam penalty on 50 minutes kind of summed up Liverpool’s season thus far. Plenty of endeavour and no firm end result. Plenty of possession, plenty of creativity and plenty of shots but then thwarted by another outstanding goalkeeping performance and poor finishing to boot. 

Liverpool now rest in sixth spot, three points clear of Newcastle, who are beginning to fade, as was expected and two points away from Arsenal and Chelsea in fifth and fourth places respectively. Two points lost rather than one point gained is how I prefer to look at this situation. I’m not sure I feel for the players. Luck and refereeing decisions aside, I’ve lost patience with them. No more excuses. They should be winning much more than they are. For all of the hard work, the finishing has to improve, and for Liverpool to reach the hallowed fourth spot would now be more luck than judgement. Perhaps that’s the way it’s going to be.

The Reds played some lovely football last night, and again the end product was lacking. Dalglish has to buy a striker in January. Forget this building for the future. If the club is happy to finish in sixth or seventh then that’s fine. If not, then get real and buy some established quality. Luis Suarez may well be gone for quite a few games come January and where would that leave them? Andy Carroll, from a supporter’s perspective at least, is no way qualified to fill the void left by Suarez’s imminent suspension. Many, as myself, would love to be proved wrong but I think I’d be throwing my money away if I bet on that happening. Suarez was a shadow of his former self in last night’s match and really only came to life in the second half. This, unfortunately, brings me onto the next point.

I see on Twitter than Alan Hansen has had to apologise for using the word “coloured”. I ask you: What on earth is going on? First Luis Suarez, a working visitor to this country is made to carry the can for something that the footballing authorities have not had the guts to do to their own indiginous (and guilty) people for what must be the last fifty years in football. Now, a former club favourite and football pundit is having to apologise for a word that most black people, or certainly their plain thinking parents, use as a matter of course in describing their own.

I have to say it’s sad that the UK has come to this. What’s even moreso is that, from what I can – or cannot see – most well known black players, former or current cannot stand up for the man. Most of these people are standing aside and watching this campaign for kangaroo equality conitinue. Why is Hansen not being defended? Why is this being allowed to continue? Why aren’t black people coming forward and saying “Hold on a minute… We are NOT offended by this”? I guess the reality may be that they don’t give a flying one. I would imagine most of this is driven by white people. Please, correct me if I’m wrong.

I’ve read Hansen’s apology “I unreservedly apologise…”. For what? Come on. Let’s get a grip of ourselves here. This is not an offensive word. When will we stop trying to become all things to all people? Hello…? It’s not going to happen. I don’t live in the UK anymore. Many may criticise me for this and ask what gives me the right. Well, I was born there, resided there for 38 years and am a Brisish citizen. I believe that gives me the right to look at my fellow countrymen (Note I will not apologise for saying country “men” as opposed to “folk”) and question the wisdom of what’s going on.

For the good of the country, and not to mention the game I love, there has to be an element of reality and sanity to our approach in all of this. Quickly before the whole country becomes a laughing stock.

As for the most important thing here. Liverpool Football Club. Three points against Blackburn on Saturday and a decent striker in January please?

By Ben Green

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