DÉJÀ VU DOES HAPPEN : Before the game against Southampton, we predicted or exp...
DÉJÀ VU DOES HAPPEN:
Before the game against Southampton, we predicted or expected Roberto Martinez handing out a memo to his players about where the opposition goal was.
They didn’t get the memo.
This fixture last season saw Everton lose to two first half own goals, and fast forward to this weekend, they concede another through Romelu Lukaku’s own goal.
Ronald Koeman was right to assess the black and white features of the round leather game given that his side were on a five-game losing streak and were able to bounce back against the Toffees with a 3-0 margin.
The key was to win the battle in the midfield and they rightly did so, for all the noise surrounding their run of defeats, the Saints are 3 points behind Man Utd.
Perhaps there should be a revisit of the article “Grading Liverpool’s Summer Transfer Window” and downgrade whatever grade was awarded then. The Reds, just like in the game against Man Utd, carved out many chances but their lack of quality strikers or perhaps none was again on display against a poor Arsenal side.
Had bandaged Martin Skrtel not headed in the stoppage-time equalizer, the pressure for Brendan Rodgers to get the boot would rip any barometer apart.
Yes, they have a leaky defence but unlike last season were attack was the best form of defence, Liverpool have traded such mindset for mediocrity as the season has proved. There is no denying Liverpool were not the better team this weekend against Arsenal but they need to be able to determine their own luck, so that possibilities of losing a winnable game stay low.
Rumors of Fernando Torres coming back to Liverpool would be most certainly welcome if only the Reds would be so forgiving as to welcome their one Anfield hero back.
AND MAN CITY CAN DO WITHOUT ONE:
No EdinDzeko, Sergio Aguero, or StevanJovetic and Man City were able to see a win over Crystal Palace. David Silva led the rout with a brace and YayaToure.
The victory means City have recorded eight consecutive wins in all competitions and, perhaps more telling, are now only second to Chelsea on goal difference having been nine points behind them six games ago.
And as LvG said difference between Man Utd and their counterparts, is the ability for the latter to grind out victories or being resilient, a factor which he pointed out was crucial in a team’s capacity to win the league. Man City would be hoping that Stoke City would be able to them a favor by getting a result against Chelsea today.
TACTICAL GENIUS GONE WRONG:
Louis van Gaal can go about his side not being able to win the Premier League this season and whatever the reason he believes for such thought. Blame for Saturday’s draw against Aston Villa should be laid at the Dutch’s feet.
Substitutions made and switching of positions done during the game were quite confusing. Had it paid off, Louis van Gaal would have been hailed as a tactical genius but it did not and while explanations have not been demanded yet, viewers still remain baffled.
James Wilson is yet to pay off on being LvG’s joker, decision to remove Robin van Persie, switch a troubling Ashley Young to the right and take off Antonio Valencia were part of some decisions that could have cost him winning the game. As they say, if it is not broke, it needs no fixing.
CHARLIE AUSTIN- THE POWER RANGER:
He cannot go anywhere and there are talks about improving his wages to the 60k range. Charlie Austin is indispensable at the moment. On Saturday QPR clinched a vital 3-2 victory over fellow relegation candidates West Brom at Loftus Road and inevitably their hero was star striker Charlie Austin, who fired home a hat-trick to help his team recover from going two goals down.
Every team in the Premier League is looking for a prolific striker and for a team fighting against relegation a player who is so good at finding space and finishing chances when they come his way is vital.
There is no doubt about it QPR are a far better team with Austin leading their attacking line. If Austin can get 20-plus goals this season then it may just be good enough to keep Harry Redknapp’s team in the Premier League and at his current rate then he may just be competing with the likes of Costa and Aguero for the Premier League golden boot at the end of the season.- far-fetched?Maybe.
11 league goals in 15 top-flight appearances is really good but can only be worthwhile if QPR learn how to win away from Loftus Road.
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