Liverpool Hit a Brick Wall

Gameweek 16 of the Premier League and nearly half way through the season.  Now we can start to see teams who are in line for a title charge, top four race or relegation scrap, however anything can still change.  This week had an unfortunate focus on the officials, with numerous decisions in numerous games coming to light and possibly proven important in the different battles up and down the league.  This week, there was diving, chipping and a lot of saving, particularly at Old Trafford.   

That is where the focus is this week, Old Trafford and the most historic and recognised game in English football between the two most decorated clubs, Manchester United and Liverpool.  Manchester United have been on fantastic form, picking four wins in a row, including three wins in last week’s hectic run of games.  Louis Van Gaal’s men haven’t been brilliant, but have got the results.  Wins at Arsenal and Southampton were ones where they were second best by far, but took their chances and had a keeper at the top of his game in David De Gea.  Liverpool have been quite bad to say the least with just two wins in the last 12 games in all competitions.  Brendan Rodgers has struggle to integrate new signings with Mario Balotelli yet to score in the league and other signings Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic, Emre Can and Alberto Moreno mustering 4 goals between them.  Gary Neville said on the previous Monday Night Football that this game would resemble a pub team game, “it’ll be like the Dog and Duck versus the Red Lion.”

United have been blighted by injuries and have had many different combinations in front of the brilliant De Gea.  Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Rafael and Chris Smalling current absentees from a depleted backline which saw Michael Carrick step in on Sunday.  Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young have been regular wing backs in a makeshift back three or five.  Liverpool may have fancied their chances against this changed defence, but with De Gea in goal, they were constantly denied at the last.  Raheem Sterling had the first chance but De Gea superbly stood tall and saved, 25 seconds later, Valencia beat Joe Allen and found Wayne Rooney who scored against Liverpool again.  Rooney is now the highest scoring player against Liverpool in the Premier League as the Scouse born United skipper continued their run of scoring in every home game this season.  Liverpool continued to probe and fail, Sterling again the man denied.  United took advantage again.  Ashley Young’s delivery flicked on by Robin Van Persie and finished by Juan Mata, 2-0 United, Liverpool seemingly beaten.  Although, a clear offside was not seen as Mata wheeled away which really cost Liverpool the game to an extent.  The second half brought more of the same, De Gea incredibly saving from Sterling once more and then starting a battle with Mario Balotelli, which he won.  If they hadn’t learnt already, Liverpool were punished again, United broke quickly with Mata, Rooney and Van Persie.  Lovren completely mishit a clearance, Mata played in Van Persie, fooling everyone in doing so and he scored. 3-0 was the result, Liverpool dejected, defeated and defied by the inspirational Spaniard in goal.

Elsewhere, Arsenal bounced back in style sweeping Newcastle aside 4-1 with a brace a piece for Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud.  Manchester City won again as Frank Lampard equalled the tally of Thierry Henry in 175 Premier League goals with the winner.  Chelsea hit back with a grinded 2-0 win over Hull.  The officials again were in the spotlight as not one, two but three Chelsea players sited diving, only two booked.  Gary Cahill, on a booking dived in the box, yet was not sent off, a shocking decision which infuriated Steve Bruce who said it looked like, “Swan Lake.”  Spurs struck late again at Swansea, Christian Eriksen scoring away once more as Spurs’ away revival continued.  Burnley added further woe to Southampton, compounding them to a fourth straight defeat with Ashley Barnes’ goal for Sean Dyche.  There were also wins for QPR, Everton and West Brom and draws at Sunderland and Crystal Palace.

Champions League Draw: 

Arsenal vs Monaco

PSG vs Chelsea

Manchester City vs Barcelona

I predict tough ties for all three English sides.  Arsenal should have too much for Monaco who got through with a record low four goals, but only one conceded.  At the Emirates, I think Arsenal can put the tie beyond the visitors ahead of the second leg.  Chelsea will have a tough ride in Paris, as they did last year.  PSG have many qualities but are not the best in Europe and are beatable as Chelsea found out last year, I expect Chelsea to edge it.  City never have it easy it seems as they drew Barcelona for the second year in a row.  If Aguero is fully fit, City have every chance, without him I can only see one winner, well maybe three by the name of Messi, Suarez and Neymar.

Britannia Beating and Rocking Rangers

People say that Christmas time is the busiest time of year, people running around getting presents, travelling to family gatherings up and down the country or being the ones who have the ordeal of hosting.  It is certainly hectic in the Barclays Premier League, with teams facing five games in just 19 days and with injury problems mounting for sum, it could be a telling period in the fate of many sides come May.  Three games have been played over the last week or so which has seen the end of the run of this season’s ‘Unbeatables’, a fan-base outrage and most importantly, goals and lots of them.   

Gameweek 13 

The first of three quick-fire games in the Premier League brought about many close games and crucial results at the top and bottom.  Chelsea were unable to batter down the Sunderland barricades and failed to score for the first time this season.  Lee Cattermole was particularly inspirational in earning a massive point for Gus Poyet’s men.  A major flashpoint came when Diego Costa kicked out at John O’Shea and subsequently was booked, but should it of been more?  Yes.  Arsenal bounced back from a horrendous defeat to Manchester United with a battling win at the Hawthorns over West Brom, following their impressive victory over Borussia Dortmund, Arsene Wenger’s men were fighting back.  Danny Welbeck grabbed the goal to compound another blow to Alan Irvine’s West Brom, a third defeat in a row.  Manchester City were maintaining their attempts in keeping up with Chelsea with a superb 3-0 win at Southampton, further illustrating the class of Sergio Aguero and return to form of Yaya Toure.  Aguero with two assists not playing the shining role but showing he has more to his game than goals, setting up Toure and then a first City goal for Gael Clichy.  City may not have had the most consistent start with disappointments at West Ham and at home to Newcastle and Stoke City.

The stand out game came from Loftus Road in a topsy-turvy, end to end relegation dogfight between QPR and Leicester.  Both have had mixed seasons, QPR’s recent form has improved, whilst Leicester’s has dropped after an impressive start.  Yet, Leicester led within the first five minutes through their International veteran Esteban Cambiasso.  QPR were caught cold but responded well and were hammering at the door and made pay with the pressure as Leicester skipper Wes Morgan put past his own keeper.  A game which saw a whopping 51 attempts on goal between the two just highlighted the importance of the three points at Loftus Road.  Leroy Fer then smashed QPR in front just before half time after main man Charlie Austin was denied.  But, in the second half, Leicester came again as Jamie Vardy hit the bar then came their equaliser, a wonderful shot from Jeffery Schlupp into the bottom corner brought it to 2-2.  At this point, it was in the balance until that man Austin sealed the deal with a close range header after a scramble in the Leicester area.  Matty James was inches from snatching a point but they were edged out by Rangers, who continued their recently impressive home form.

The Rest 

Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa

Liverpool 1-0 Stoke

Manchester United 3-0 Hull City

Spurs 2-1 Everton

Swansea 1-1 Crystal Palace

West Ham 1-0 Newcastle

Gameweek 14 & 15 

From Tuesday to Monday, Premier League teams were travelling up and down the country with two more games to play last week.  Some fared better than others over this fixture pile up which meant some gained momentum into the Christmas period, whilst some began to worry.  Arsenal had picked up a vital 1-0 win over Southampton then headed to the Britannia Stadium where they had won once in their previous eight visits.  So Arsene Wenger was going into the game hoping to continue Arsenal’s run of three clean sheets with rookie keeper Emi Martinez impressing.  Although, in a changed back four with Hector Bellerin shoved into the fray and Laurent Koscielny strangely benched, this was then put to the sword in 18 seconds as Arsenal were a shambles and Peter Crouch profited.  Two more in an atrocious first half for Arsenal from star man Bojan and John Walters.  Arsenal were abysmal, Olivier Giroud missed a glorious chance at 1-0 which could’ve changed the game, but other than that he was a bystander as Chambers and Bellerin in particular had a torrid half with captain Per Mertersacker lost at sea.  Arsenal plucked up their ideas and restored dignity to the score line after Bojan had a fourth disallowed, which shouldn’t have been to be fair, with Santi Cazorla scoring his first league goal since January.  After that softly awarded penalty, Aaron Ramsey bagged his first goal since August with a sumptuous volley.  Arsenal had the game in their hands and looked set to complete an unlikely comeback until Calum Chambers was sent off for a silly second booking.  Arsenal couldn’t regain firm control and methods of long ball didn’t prosper.  A 3-2 defeat sparked wild roars of protest against Arsene Wenger which swept social media.  It is below the belt the abuse Wenger has faced and deserves some respect for what he’s done the club.  He may have made mistakes but sacking him is not the answer, a quick fix in January can restore hope for Arsenal that the season can be salvaged.

Elsewhere, it was the end of the unbeaten Blues as Chelsea couldn’t follow up a 3-0 win over Spurs and lost at a resurgent Newcastle 2-1, the big difference being no Nemanja Matic.  Manchester United completed a great couple of weeks with a smash and grab at St Marys with Robin Van Persie in the goals.  City won but lost Aguero for the next three weeks, a big blow to their title challenge.  Liverpool and Spurs stuttered again both drawing 0-0, but QPR again beat a relegation rival.  Fer and Austin providing, whilst Aston Villa picked up a huge win over Leicester.

Special Edition- Thiery Henry: Legend's End

As New York Red Bulls lost in the MLS Play-Offs to New England Revolution, the MLS lost one of the greatest players to grace American soccer in Thierry Henry.  After 122 games and 51 goals, Henry announced he’d played his last game after their play-off defeat.  Two Eastern Conference titles and a key influence in boosting the reputation and popularity of the MLS signalled a successful period in the States.  But, as Henry ponders over his next step in his glittered career including spells at Juventus, Arsenal and Barcelona, I will dig out five of the best goals scored by the Frenchman that sum up his qualities.

 

5)  Henry vs Toronto FC 2012

If people had doubted the general game of Henry, this performance in 2012 put that to rest.  His side 3-1 up after assisting all three through total unselfishness, he decided to get in on the act.  Superbly sent away by Kenny Cooper, who happened to be the recipient of two Henry assists himself now returning the favour.  Henry had the freedom of the left hand side but saw the keeper a few yards off his line and went for the spectacular.  20 plus yards out, he curled the ball over the stranded keeper and into the far corner with ease.  The performance in this game showing Henry was not just a goal-scorer but a team player, as well as producing moments of genius and class.

 4)  Henry vs Liverpool 2006

Some were saying Henry may have been past his best towards the end of his Arsenal career, but at the age of 28, he still had many years to go.  Maybe he’d lost that extra yard of pace, however that was not evident with this brilliant solo goal, not his first solo number against Liverpool either.  From the centre circle he knocked the ball at least 20 yards to the left channel and left him in a race with Jamie Carragher.  Carragher with a 5 yard headstart was put to the floor by Henry who showed great pace to beat him there.  He carried into the penalty area, skinned Daniel Agger and fired into the bottom corner past Jerzy Dudek.  People may forget just how quick Henry was or maybe still is but this shows it. 

 3)  Henry vs Real Madrid 2006

Jose Mourinho famously said that Henry was not a big game player, ironically this was shortly before his Chelsea side played Arsenal, where Henry scored twice.  If there was ever a definition of a big game, they don’t come bigger than playing Real Madrid.  Arsenal were looked at as overwhelming underdogs and left with no chance of beating the Galacticos.  Yet, when Henry decided to turn on the after-burners there were few defenders in world football who could stop him.  In the centre circle, he shoved off ‘The Ronaldo’, brushed Fernando Gago aside and walked past Guti’s lunge.  With Segio Ramos spirting to cover, Henry slid the ball in the opposite corner of Iker Casillas and score arguably one of the greatest goals in Arsenal’s history.  The competition, the stage, the team all considered, it is a goal that shows the determination, strength and composure of Thierry which in the end won Arsenal the tie. 

 

 

 

2)  Henry vs Manchester United

Thierry Henry was clearly confident in his own ability, however the amount of confidence and ability to attempt this effort was quite sensational.  In a game which was built up as a meeting of the title favourites, it normally means moments of quality or a mistake decides the game, in this case quality decided it.  The ball was rolled into him by Giles Grimandi and Henry was with his back to goal level with the ‘D’ of the penalty box.  Dennis Irwin thought he had him under control, then a deft flick of his right foot popped the ball past Irwin for a second.  Henry had the space to unleash a shot all in one fluid movement.  The audacious volley looped over the helpless Fabien Barthez.  Manchester United looked shell-shocked, but it was in no doubt that Henry intended to do exactly what he produced.  Technically, one of the best goals of the Premier League era, certainly in Henry’s era. 

 

1)  Henry vs Spurs 2002

Everyone knows the rivalry between Arsenal and Spurs.  Over the last few years, the gap between the two have been closer and closer and the games competitive and edgy.  However, back in the days of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkhamp and co.  Spurs did well to get a point from the Gunners.  The class difference of the two was shown by this quite unbelievable solo stunner from Thierry Henry.  This goal shows the pace, skill, strength, confidence, passion and most of all, clinical nature that the Frenchman oozes.  Outside his team’s penalty box, he took down a Patrick Vieira header and left Matty Etherington for dead.  Etherington tried to track him back and Henry held him off and held him off until he gave up.  Henry was left running at the heart of Spurs’ defence at their peril.  Stephen Carr showed him on his left foot, thinking he couldn’t muster the effort after the lung-bursting run.  Yet, Henry side stepped him and curled it into the corner past Kasey Keller.  You’d think he was out of breath, but he had just enough to roar back down the touchline all the way to the Spurs fans behind his own goal.  The passion of Henry emphasised by the celebration, the man will forever remain one of the greatest players to play in the Premier League and the best striker to play for Arsenal. 

 As for his future, a return to Arsenal seems likely.  Whether he finishes off with one last stint at the Emirates to end his star-studded career or retires and returns as a coach.  Henry’s legacy is always there with his bronze statue, but he says he has unfinished business to possibly guide Arsenal to gold while he still can.