Liverpool FC v West Ham United – December 11th at Anfield
Last time the Hammers came to Anfield, it was, the beginning of the end for our gaffer from the emerald isle. The 3-0 loss at the hands of a quickly improving Slavin Bilic team stung for several reasons.
First, it was embarrassing how quickly we conceded in minute three.
Lanzini’s goal --- “never go against a Sicilian, when your job is on the line” – Princess Bride Part Deux
Second, the red freight train migraine started pounding scouse craniums in 29th minute when Lovren got stripped and Frank Noble punished the reds on the 2 counter goal in less than a half hour. From front to back, our performance was poor. Everyone at home and Anfield knew it.
Third, the magician loses his shit, stamps Payet, sees red and misses the Mancs all in a matter of seconds. Permit me to suggest that each of these outcomes would be bigger than we might have given credit for during the moment. Philippe plays best when he is calmer than his opponent --- no need to get jacked up when you have his bag of tricks. Stamping Dimitri Payet is like spray painting Matisse or Monet --- and there is always the risk of PC’s “magical power” transmissions to an unlikely source. Payet’s season last year was out of this galaxy. Seeing red and missing the Man U derby is akin to filing for divorce just after your spouse wins the lottery -- the timing sucks.
So my belabored point here is, going into the season on a thin leash already, Rodgers and his new staff (no laughing at that pun please) has to be happy with the start. Liverpool won at Stoke on a moment of shear brilliance from Coutinho and won a non-convincing battle against Bournemouth at Anfield prior to putting in a nice little woulda-should-coulda draw at the Emirates against Arsenal.
For all of those calling for the firing of Rogers, it was not the kind of start after three games, which was cause for concern.
Oh, how fate is a tricky bitch, and one I find particularly humorous given my proclivity for hypocrisy.
I did a small other thread write up of the game before LFC vs WHU, Bournemouth had just played both of us, and to make a short story short, my advice was to press their backs into making mistakes. As it turned out, the hammers were better at this game than the reds on the day. As it appears now, the merry-go-round of upsetting losses between the three teams Bournemouth, West Ham and Liverpool needs to be better understood.
Coutinho’s red card what have I done look ---- as he is about to receive a good “Rodgering”. Both of these men foreshadowed what was to come. For those who did not remember, it was the first win for the hammers at Anfield in 52 years. To put that into perspective, in 1965, Wooly Bully was the top song and the Sound of Music the best movie.
Alas, we needed only to remind those two to hold their heads up high through the darkness and walk on with hope in your heart. Rodgers found Celtic, Coutinho is now a National Team Starter for Brazil and Liverpool have Jürgen Klopp! Cool…….
Liverpool supporters could dream again! Goals were scored, big games won (yes, I am talking about you Man City, and European nights could bring the ecstatic highs & left back woes)…
And while the FA Cup match loss at Boleyn Grounds ripped our hearts out in April 2-1, we did have the consolation of knowing that only one of our starters that night is in our regular eleven (and btw will miss the game this week – Coutinho). The rest are either gone, squad backups, subs or out on loan. As painful as this was game to revisit, it will be remembered more for the misses by Benteke than by any magic hammer potion. Nonetheless, Liverpool fans everywhere need to pry from their memory that we have lost the last three matches against West Ham --- form or not. And, fate is tricky bitch! – Hunter Thompson paraphrased
Change of Fortune
Intimate Tradition Anfield Expansion Cold Corporate $$$ Grab Olympic Stadium
Current Record - 9-3-2 Current Record - 3-3-8 ThemesWest Ham Scoring - Set Pieces & Payet – 2015/16
Goal production = 83 Goals > 50% Payet & Set Plays
West Ham Scoring 2016/17 - 15 goals in 14 games with Payet assisting 5 times and Antonio scoring 6 goals. They tend to score on set pieces as 9 of their 14 have been scored this way. And by the looks of our set piece defense at the end of the Bournemouth game, we could use a jolt or at a Matip.
Liverpool scores goals under Klopp
2015/16 EPL Goals Scored 52 in 30 games
2016/17 EPL Goals Scored 35 in 13 games
TEAM-TEAM-TEAM is the mantra as Firmino 14, Coutinho 12, Milner 9, Lallana and Mane 7, and Sturridge 6 (not including Can, Origi or Benteke here for reasons for brevity).
InjuriesBoth teams, when they have struggled, it has not been going forward but protecting their defensive third from silly give-a ways. The loss of Cresswell for the Hammers has been noticeable as well as the transfer out of Tompkins. Adrian seems to have had a few errors and Randolph is now starting.
For the Reds, the losses keep mounting. Not knowing the status of Sadio while writing this, we are looking at the loss of 3/5 our attacking force going into the winter ---- with Sadio possibly injured now and soon to be heading to the African Nations Cup, Sturridge struggling with his ailing calves again, and our little magician out for next 6 weeks. Now, I do not want to cry a river since there will be some overlap where these three incidents do not intersect, but the fragile attack or even not having Mane on the field ---- has been a factor in both of our losses this season. Something to think about.
Bilic Under PressureThe loss to Arsenal might sets in motion contingency planning. What if Liverpool replicate Arsenal's success? How are we going to manage losing Payet this summer? And our stadium has been a complete public relations nightmare. Let's fire the coach and pretend we know what we are doing.... To this end, I hope Slavan is not fired after this game, but his days could be numbered unless he can produce some wins to get out of the relegation zone. Its still early, but the owners are getting skittish.
So, we have seen another reversal of fortune. But beware, the humiliation of losing at home 5-1 to bitter rival Arsenal is enough to make a wounded team fight for their lives --- nothing left to lose, really. And our recent game against Bournemouth makes this is a game where both defenses will look to end the nightmare.
ImplicationsFirst, today's loss against Bournemouth has us third to Arsenal and the plastics. The blues next few games are against teams from the bottom half, so we want to stay within reach. We have to play some catch-up. Better now, than in March or April went cup games and fixture madness seems to take hold.
Two, we have to find a way to meet the physicality of West Ham’s direct style and still not get complacent upon the counter. This is what makes them tick – the athleticism of Antonio and Kouyate with the precision/skill of Payet. If Carroll plays, then we have another body to deal with and the second ball becomes vital. While I do not foresee another 2015 0-3 blanking, we have to be mindful that asserting ourselves physically is going to be an important part of this week’s game plan --- one I’m sure JK will remind and reinforce.
Three, I will say it again. We need to press their backs. Not sure if Cresswell will be ready for this game, as I saw he took a knock and might be out. If so, great because he is a scouser who is aces. We have to account for runners on set pieces like Reid, Carroll, Antonio and company plus our keeper Karius/Mignolet is going to have to communicate very well --- as Payet can put it on a dime in between attacking spaces.
Lastly, we cannot get outworked, outpressed two years in row. For Matip and Lovren, this means finding a nice rythym early facilitating composure among Henderson, Clyney and Milner if we lose possession in our final third. This means do not panic nor let the Payet to Antonio connection beat us.
If I sound overly cautious, its only because I picked this game at the summer turn, thinking we would get revenge. However, in looking at our injuries and the history of how one team seems to steal the others’ thunder, I am a bit nervous for this one. And if I’m honest, I fear and love Payet. No free kicks 25 yards and in, please.
Prediction? Lets hope it is not another reversal of fortune and if it is (it involves our Brazilians getting off the schneid)
GO YOU REDS!!!!!!!!!