Liverpool 1 Birmingham 0: Through to the quarter finals.
Posted by Akzoony in Liverpool | 9 November 2006
Bizarrely after managing to get tickets for the recent Aston Villa and Bordeaux games, I found myself really enjoying sitting down at the local in my usual seat opposite the big screen and really picking the game apart last night. Don’t get me wrong nothing I repeat NOTHING beats watching a game at Anfield, no matter where you sit (I could only get into the Anfield Road end and the lower Centenary last week! Never mind will be back in the KOP soon) but there was something comforting about watching Liverpool do a very professional job over 3 or 4 pints.
We started with our second string last night, and nothing has highlighted Rafa’s rebuilding work more than the strength on show. Apart from young Lee Peltier playing right back (and doing a sterling job at that) every man on show but Sissoko would normally be warming the bench (not all at once obviously) and every man would be starting regularly for most Premiership sides. Truly the days are gone when we used to have to dread injuries to key players.
Zenden showed signs of the forward runs he used to do that gained him Middlesborough’s player of the year award from the middle of the park. Gonzales caused all sorts of problems early on. Pennant was sound all night and seemed to enjoy the reception the majority of Birmingham fans gave him, and our two centre backs were out of this world. You would be forgiven for thinking Agger and Paletta had played regularly in the first team for years rather than being two promising players for the future.
For me this was a cracking performance from a team that had never played together before. Birmingham had a go, but we kept a much deserved clean sheet and came away with a very satisfying win thanks to Daniel Agger’s conversion of Pennants corner deep into first half injury time.
The only downside was the Injury to Momo, the poor lad has not had a lot of luck with bizarre injuries, but last nights did look very painful. A dislocated shoulder could keep him out for a few months and let’s try not to think about Michael Stensgaard back in the 90’s and his career ending ironing board injury! (for those of you to young to remember he was a promising reserve keeper who-when attempting to catch a collapsing ironing board- re-dislocated his shoulder).
We can only hope that the phenomenal healing powers Momo showed last year will come to his aid once again. ‘Momo, Momo-Momo, Momo-Momo, Momo-Momo Mo Sissoko!!!’
One final point, did anyone understand Robbie Savage at full time, when talking about Palettas challenge late on? he said something like ‘it was a clear foul and if the referee had given it, it would have to be a penalty even though it was outside of the box’ ??????
Genius!
YNWA
