Liverpool easily beat West Ham 3-0 at Anfield to keep their European hopes alive and leave the Hammers in deep relegation trouble.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was pleased with his side’s solid display after the Reds beat West Ham 3-0.
Why celebrate when it feels so good to be unhappy?
Let’s get the objective out of the way: Liverpool were dominant in every facet of the game against a quite poor West Ham side today. Yossi Benayoun notched the first through some fine nipple control, David Ngog got the second, and the Greek mind-f***ed Robert Green into allowing the third to ricochet off his leg back into goal. There was really no chance that West Ham were going to fight back in this one, even if Liverpool were interested in ceding any sort of control. The statistics don’t lie today (skillfully plucked from Soccernet):
Of the two shots on goal for the relegation-troubled side, neither was much of a bother for Pepe Reina, and the forward movements they did manage never really looked too bothersome. They looked every part the weaker side, and Liverpool rode out the final thirty minutes, likely more, very comfortably. The absence of Fernando Torres was no worry, as Ngog, Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez, and Benayoun proved too much for West Ham. Steven Gerrard had his run of the place, and the defense (Pepe Reina especially, in gaining another clean sheet) very nearly went untroubled.
Why, then, am I left feeling that even at 3-0, Liverpool didn’t do enough? The pain that comes along with this one is not of a statistical manner—how could it be? But there’s a disappointment that now accompanies every league match for Liverpool, a sort of qualitative loss that is only present when the the game itself matters very little. I’m likely engaging in even more self-pity and complaining than is necessary, as there is nothing done and dusted in this campaign.
Maybe it’s that at this point, it’s simply not possible for Liverpool to do enough. They’re far off the pace of matches that really matter—those being played by Chelsea, by United, and, until this weekend, by Arsenal. As far as the league campaign goes, the only real taste of importance will be on May 2, when Chelsea visit Anfield in an undoubtedly massive game—for them.
It’s been a season of discontent in league, one marked by disaffected performances both at home and on the road, underachieving at nearly every turn. So tonight, even in dominating the match in every fathomable way, the numbers don’t really seem to do anything for me. Even the celebrations, the applause, the “feel good” pieces that are, you know, supposed to feel good, somehow didn’t.
This is certainly nothing new, as Liverpool have been drifting in the league campaign for some time now. I think I’ve mentioned more than a few times that it’s the sense of irrelevence that is the most threatening for Liverpool, and I think that tonight, even in a match in which our boys were clearly the better side, it hit me like a sledgehammer. 3-0? To West Ham? Eh. What’s it mean?
It could be the finality of the calendar that’s got me in another existential crisis. But if you left this one feeling entirely content with Liverpool, I’d love to know how. And while Thursday is a different story, at least in terms of the potential for silverware, I’m still struggling to make much of it.
I realize that this is completely unfair—what else are they supposed to do? They get a win they need, clearly playing for their pride and their supporters at this point. Like I mentioned, though, it was almost paradoxically a reminder of the shortcomings of a tough league season. Perhaps even more unfortunately, it’s likely one that will manage to give us hope again, and that’s maybe the scariest part.
The show must go on—lineups are in.
Streams:
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Atdhe.net
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**Match also shown live on ESPN2(HD) for those with cable service**
Liverpool:
Reina
Johnson Carragher Kyrgiakos Agger
Maxi Gerrard Lucas Benayoun
Kuyt Ngog
Bench: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Babel, Mascherano, Degen, El Zhar, Ayala
With those names it’s got to be a 4-4-2, and that limits the number of options in the midfield area. It makes sense, though—neither Kuyt nor Ngog has flourished as the lone man this season, and ideally Kuyt’s industry gives Ngog the space he requires. I’d expect Lucas to have a good match today, as he typically flourishes when he’s not paired with Javier Mascherano. The partnership with Gerrard gives him a bit more role definition, and we’ve seen him do well in the past when he’s not simply there. The starting eleven leaves three attacking choices on the bench: Alberto Aquilani, poised for another 10 minute cameo; Ryan Babel, who’s a 65-minute sub almost certainly; and Nabil El Zhar, hoping to work his way into a semi-regular role. What’s the over/under on how many times the absence of Fernando Torres is mentioned on the broadcast?
West Ham:
Green
Faubert da Costa Upson Spector
Behrami Kovac Noble Stanislas
Cole Ilan
Bench: Kurucz, Gabbidon, Franco, Mido, McCarthy, Diamanti, Daprela
It’s as expected for West Ham up front—Carlton Cole and Ilan leading the way. I’m still waiting for a team to try to work Daniel Agger down their right side…not familiar enough with West Ham to know if they have the skill to do so. As I mentioned yesterday, he’s tended to drift centrally in the few times he’s deputized at left back, particularly in attack, and that could spell trouble on a West Ham counter. Yossi Benayoun does a decent job of back-tracking, though, and it’ll be especially vital tonight.
In the run-up:
It’s fashionable right now to spread panic about Fernando Torres staying or going after he’s recovered, so in anticipation of the cryptic readings of his post-surgery comments, OMG HE”Z LEEVINNNG 4 SPANE!!!
“I would have loved to return to Atleti and come face to face with the fans again, but I will have many more opportunities in the future.”
Duh, it’s right there, he will have many more opportunities in the future to play against Atletico Madrid, meaning that he’s joining a team in La Liga!#@! Actually, here’s the full content of the interview, which sheds light on the fact that he played nearly the entire second leg match against Benfica with pain…and scored twice anyway. There’s obviously nothing there to refute the rumors that this equals the end of his Liverpool career, but there’s nothing to support it either. Glenn Beck would be proud—”I’m not saying Fernando Torres is leaving, but don’t you find it curious that he hasn’t denied these rumors? Makes you think, doesn’t it?”
On the heels of this, Rafa has been asked to comment about the squad’s ability to cope with injuries this season, and in typically pithy fashion, the Spaniard states, “We have had too many injuries this year.” I’d say. The injury/suspension tracker on the official website has now become one of my top bookmarks—partially because I know I will never be disappointed for content, and partly because I’ve reached a point of self-loathing and pity that I imagine I’ll one day be able to create a fantasy starting eleven from the names there. At one point this season it was looking like a damned dangerous front four—Torres, Steven Gerrard, Yossi Benayoun, Ryan Babel, etc. etc. So anyway, good point, Rafa.
As for other news, the Europa League matches for this week have gotten the go-ahead after serious doubts regarding airline travel. The volcanic eruption in Iceland had cast doubts on every European match this week—UEFA announced yesterday that the Champions League matches would go ahead, so you knew it was only a matter of time until the step-child was acknowledged. Some of punch of this tie has obviously been taken away by the news about Torres’ injury, but it’s still a European semi-final, and Liverpool are still one of only two teams from the Premier League left in European competition.
The arduous journey to Madrid began with a stroll for Liverpool as West Ham reminded Martin Broughton, the on-looking British Airways and now Anfield chairman, all about carrying passengers. Here, on a night when fighting spirit was a prerequisite for a team in trouble, was the embodiment of Premier League surrender.
Life without Fernando Torres is a prospect too awful for Liverpool to contemplate in the long term but, in the short, and against opponents as accommodating as Gianfranco Zola’s relegation-threatened side, they cruised to victory to keep alive their outside chances of Champions League qualification. “It will be difficult because Tottenhan have done their job and won two matches you normally would not expect,” admitted the Liverpool manager, Rafael Benítez. “But we have to keep going in case they make a mistake.”
A crowd of 37,697 was Liverpool’s lowest in the league since December 2004 and a reflection of their diminishing prospects of a top-four finish. But they could not have wished for a more comfortable ride to take them within five points of Spurs, or better preparation for Thursday’s Europa League semi-final against Atlético Madrid, than this triumph without breaking sweat.
Across Stanley Park two weeks ago a spirited draw with Everton ended a run of six successive defeats and lifted the pressure on Zola and West Ham. Victory over Sunderland then increased the flow of confidence at a critical moment but, despite an encouraging start by the visitors, momentum was relinquished cheaply on their return to Merseyside and heads dropped the second Yossi Benayoun chested Liverpool ahead. West Ham’s meagre response bore all the hallmarks of a side accepting defeat and reserving their energy for Saturday’s relegation dogfight against Wigan Athletic. As did Zola’s post-match analysis.
The Italian, who is expected to part company with West Ham at the end of the season, said: “We started very well but the first goal changed things completely. I don’t think we felt we could come back from that. It hasn’t been our best performance but this is not a moment to think about that too much. We have a massive game on Saturday and we need a reaction against Wigan. When I went into the dressing room afterwards I wanted to get a reaction but I didn’t need to say anything because the players admitted they made mistakes. I am sure we will get a reaction.”
Liverpool began tentatively, befitting a side who failed to score against Fulham on their last Anfield outing and one trying to rediscover their potency without their one world-class striker for the rest of this trying season. Thanks to frequent lapses in the West Ham defence, however, the home side were able to assume complete control without having to raise their performance to any exalted heights.
The pivotal moment was breathtaking in its simplicity as Benayoun responded to the constant jeers from his former supporters in the most emphatic manner available. Steven Gerrard whipped over a low free-kick from the right, awarded after a needless foul by Jonathan Spector on David Ngog, and the Israel captain somehow found himself completely unmarked in front of goal and able to steer the ball beyond Robert Green with his chest. Benayoun’s body shape suggested he might have used an arm to score off the inside of the post but West Ham’s appeals were muted and replays vindicated the officials’ decision to allow the goal.
Liverpool doubled their lead through Ngog, the young French striker who suffers by comparison with Torres but whom Zola had correctly identified as a genuine threat with his movement around the box. Benayoun was again central to the goal, picking out Maxi Rodríguez wide on the right, and, when the Argentina winger crossed low, Ngog reacted far quicker than Matthew Upson to sweep a fine finish through Green’s suspect defences. It was a goal to worry Fabio Capello as well as his compatriot in the West Ham dug-out.
Liverpool eased further ahead courtesy of another Gerrard free-kick. This time the captain’s deep delivery from the left found Sotirios Kyrgiakos receiving scant attention from Upson at the back post. The Greece defender stretched to divert the ball against the post and the rebound struck Green on the leg before rolling over the line. The stroll was complete.
• Volcanic ash complicates journey to face Atlético
• Players will start with train ride to London today
Liverpool are due to start a 24-hour journey by train and plane to Madrid today after Uefa said their Europa League semi‑final against Atlético, and Fulham’s first leg at Hamburg, should take place as scheduled on Thursday.
Despite concerns over the travel chaos caused by the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud, articulated by both clubs to European football’s governing body, Uefa refused to delay the ties. Liverpool face an arduous journey to the Spanish capital, although not as gruelling as initially feared.
Rafael Benítez’s squad will travel by train from Merseyside to London this afternoon and then take the Eurostar to Paris, where they will stay overnight. Tomorrow morning Liverpool will take a train to Bordeaux, before a short flight to Madrid. A decision has not been made on the return trip and Liverpool hope the gradual reopening of UK airspace will allow for a flight home.
Benítez said: “People are working hard to prepare a Plan A and Plan B. There are not too many options on the date. I don’t like to play Mondays but hopefully everyone will be fresh and it won’t be a problem. I don’t think it will give Atlético an advantage for the game because we should be there in enough time to rest.”
There is a slight chance that the relaxation of the no-fly zones will enable Liverpool to fly to Madrid from Stansted airport as planned, although a decision will not be taken until this afternoon. Despite the uncertainty over their return from Spain, Liverpool accept they must fulfil their Premier League fixture at Burnley on Sunday. There is also no suggestion that Fulham’s league game at Everton on the same day will be postponed and the club remains in the dark over whether supporters’ flights to Hamburg will depart as scheduled.
Fernando Torres, meanwhile, is optimistic he will be fit for the World Cup and has been reassured of his place in Spain’s squad by the national team’s sporting director, Fernando Hierro. The Liverpool striker will miss a reunion with former club Atlético and the rest of the domestic season with a knee injury.
Fernando Torres insists he has not put his hopes of playing in the World Cup before Liverpool after opting to undergo knee surgery which rules him out of the rest of the domestic season.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez intends to see out the rest of his contract, provided the club’s financial situation allows it, according to his agent.