Defeat an accident waiting to happen

IT’S ALWAYS hard to lose a game, but to lose to arguably the worst Liverpool side for decades (with only a couple of players excused from that description) is depressing.

I have been concerned with our away form for some time and I’m afraid that the result Sunday didn’t come as a surprise to many fans.

This ploy of standing off teams for an entire half makes no sense. We have gotten away with it on a couple of occasions more through luck than judgement, but one win in our last four league away ties tells its own story.

The pattern in these games is always the same – a poor first half followed by a barnstorming second – but I was the harbinger of doom after the Blackburn game if you remember. I said that not every team was going to miss gilt edged chances, and so Torres proved with two fabulous finishes.

One thing that was evident from the delirious celebrations following their win, is the role reversal both clubs have undergone. The Scousers celebrated like they had just won the league at the final whistle while we were embarrassed to have lost to such a lowly side.

It was a long drive back to London which provided plenty of time to think about our next four away games – Birmingham, Newcastle, Tottenham and Arsenal. Ancelotti needs to sort out his tactics and quickly.

One thing evident from the Liverpool game was how much we miss Lampard – the midfield was often static on Sunday and you know that Frank would have changed that. He runs down those channels that he works hard to create and his nine years with us have demonstrated that there is often a goal at the end such moves.

Daniel Sturridge seems to be dividing opinion amongst the supporters at the moment. I think he has looked vibrant and hungry when he has been bought on for us lately. He has missed the odd chance but that is often a manifestation of the constant bench-warmer.

As you may have guessed, I am not a fan of Kalou, but he does have the habit of popping up with the odd goal. The problem you have though, especially when he starts, is that his concentration seems to wander. This causes him either to fall over, produce a panic pass direct to the opposition or stand wide-eyed as the ball completely bypasses him. It is very frustrating to watch.

So tonight we play host to the other team in Fulham who have had a fairly uninspiring season and then we face Sunderland at the weekend.

I’m hoping for fully fledged warfare in the Manchester derby and a minor miracle at Molineux – perhaps Mick McCarthy can render the Arsenal players drowsy by the use of his monotone downbeat moaning.

Our lead at the top has gone from healthy to fragile, but no one said it was going to be easy.

League titles these days are not handed out to just anyone, otherwise I’m sure the powers that be would have found a way to gift one to Liverpool in the last 20 years – after all they have already bestowed a sainthood on Gerrard – to go with his aura of untouchability. Yes, I am a sore loser. I hope the team are hurting as much – let Fulham and Sunderland pay the price.

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