Just got back from watching the match at the boozer.
Missed the first 11-12 minutes because the first pub I went in couldn't get the fuckin' channel working.
Anyway.
First half, chances galore. The first 44 minutes, all I can describe them as is beautiful. Alonso, Gerrard, Hamann, Mellor were linking up superbly. Crisp, short, first touch passing was dominating precedings at Gerrard was at the heart of it. Backheels, Cryuff flicks, they were all happening and coming off, we were battering them and creating chance after chance. We got the goal, free kick 30 yards out bout 15 yards to the right, Gerrard stood it up far post, Carra nods it across goal and Kewell gets there just before Sorensen and puts us in front. A well worked goal. After that we were immense. It was the best football I've seen us play away from home for aaaaages. As I said, knocking it about short in midfield, with the occasional long pass from Alonso or Gerrard. Mellor forced a full-stretched save from Sorensen, Gerrard had 2 chances which he should have done better, the 2nd of which came about through awesome football, but he blasted straight at the keeper. Even Kewell was looking very lively, you could see the goal had eased a bit of pressure on him.
I was delighted with how things were going, Kirkland had not touched the ball, then McCann goes down from a non-existent challenge from Carragher. Carra knew it, McCann knew it, Halsey the prick however did not. Free-kick 25 yards out, goal. Half time, fucking pissed off, we'd battered them! Could so, so easily have been 3-0 at this point. Still pretty confident though if we could repeat that performance.
Second half though was a bit more even, although they still created zero. Apart from Kirkland tipping over another Solano free-kick. It was more of a midfield battle in the second 45, with a few half-chances for us from Kewell and Gerrard. One thing I didn't like though was Traore coming on for Mellor and playing left wing for the last half hour. Didn't really understand that with Riise at right back. Anyway, not much to report from the second half, just that we played quite well and shaded the half, but not much of interest happened.
Overall, quite disappointed with this one to be honest. Can't fault the lads, nobody had a bad game. We should have cruised this one, Villa were awful, no idea how they're unbeaten at home. Truly woeful.
Kirkland 6 - Nothing to do apart from the 2 free kicks and the occasional cross.
Finnan 6 - Steady. Right back in the first half, nothing to deal with. Second half right midfield, was solid, showed a decent first touch and put a few decent crosses in, including a quality ball with his left peg late on to Traore.
Hyypia 7 - Strong when needed, but hardly needed. Read the game very well a couple of times.
Carra 7 - Won quite a few headers, not tested otherwise. Strong when needed.
Riise 6 - Think he should be first choice left-back. Not really involved today though.
Nunez 5 - A few nice momenets, a few not so nice. Willing to take on the full back. Brought off at half time as a few thought he would be.
Hamann 6 - First half was good, like all in central midfield. Second half he gave the ball away far too much than we've come to expect from him.
Alonso 7 - Linked quite superbly with Stevie in the first half. Great mix of quick short passes, and raking long passes.
Gerrard 8 - All over the place today. Should have bagged himself at least 1 in the first half. He carried on from last weeks display today.
Mellor 6 - Linked up well in the first half with the midfield runners and should have scored. A lot of responsibility for him and his lack of pace showed at stages. Didn't let anyone down though. Off on the hour.
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Josemi 7 - On at half time and was very solid. Some good, hard tackles when needed.
Traore - 6 Came on at left wing and it didn't work to be honest, didn't really understand that one.
Pongolle - 6 Came on late, but looked lively and almost got free a couple of times.
Nothing at all against Mellor, but we would have won this game with Baros in the side, or a referee who can tell if its a free-kick or not from 5 yards away.
