Well, what can I say? Again, Liverpool struggle against a so-called lesser side who coe to Anfield armed with a bus and an inspired ‘keeper. Liverpool drew at home tonight against a toothless Blackburn side, having gifted the visitors the lead through a Charlie Adam own goal. The upside… The return of Steven Gerrard
Plenty of endeavour from Liverpool but again, they undone themselves with sloppy finishing and a general lack of invention in the final third. Dalglish’s team held no surprises. The inclusion of Andy Carroll was as predicted in our match preview to partner Luis Suarez. Jay Spearing made way in the squad to accomodate the returning Gerrard. The usual back four kept their places and Maxi came into the midfield to accompany the now usual Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Adam.
Reds fell behind to an Adam own goal when he sliced the ball past a helpless Pepe Reina whilst uner pressure from Mauro Formica. An equaliser early in the second spell from Maxi was no more than the home side deserved. The ensuing relentless pressure from Liverpool wasn’t enough to secure the victory. Some more superb heroics between the sticks from Mark Bunn kept Blackburn from sinking without trace. Two fantastic point-blank saves from him were enough to earn his side a point including a last gasp effort to deny Carroll.
The Blackburn players’ celebrations on full time simply added proof to the fact that they got out of jail tonight. Not that they broke out of jail I have you understand, more the fact that dozy Liverpool left the key in the door and they simplylet themselves out! Some of the Liverpool supporters were leaving early and although this, as a rule is something I’m dead against, I can almost sympathise with them. For all of the Reds attacking effort, mainly down the Blackburn right they lacked that cutting edge in front of goal ultimately cost them. The introduction of Gerrard for the happless Adams did inject some weolcome thought to the Lverpool attack and served to remind us how much work Henderson and Adams have in front of them if they’re to reach the standards set by even Lucas, let alone the man from Whiston himself.
What sticks in my throat about this result is that like Blackburn, Like Fulham will go on to get royally stuffed 4, 5 or 6 nil by Manchester United, and get done over by Stoke in their following fixtures. I’m tired of the Liverpool need to be winning stuff. I know it, the fans all know it and the players, for sure now it. Why they can’t produce some consistency is not a mystery. Although they generally play some good football they have to start to tke their chances. We can’t bemoan the Goalkeepers all of the time. Again, we have to call for a striker in January. Andy Carroll comes close, but he’s still not doing the business. For all the plaudits, even Luis isn’t exactly tearing up trees at the moment. partially because he’s been figured out by opposing defenders, and also because he doesn’t have a good enough partner to play alongside.
It’s become par for the course with Liverpool. Arsenal take on Wolves tomorrow at the Emirates and judging by their recent form, it’s reasonable to assume that the Reds will only fall further behind the chasing pack following that result. No shock there Sherlock.
By Ben Green
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