Liverpool, undoubtedly one of the greatest clubs in the world, some of the best fans and players in the world. But for some reason they are in sharp decline, after one of their worst starts in history. Liverpool lie 16th after a single win and two draws from the opening five league games, far from what a club of it’s stature would expect. In the first game a tough test against Arsenal was made harder after a seemingly harsh sending off for Joe Cole, but a well struck David N’Gog goal made sure Liverpool at least had something to fight for. Then in the last minute after hanging on for a hard fought win, the always dependable Pepe Reina made an error, after the ball had struck the post he finger-tipped it into the back of his own net.
After starting qualifying in the first round for the Europa League Liverpool faced Trabzonzpor in the last round of qualifying for the Europa League group stages, a crucial Ryan Babel goal on the stroke of half time gave Liverpool the lead they needed to go to Turkey. So now a difficult trip to Eastlands against a Manchester City side with no limits to spending at all. But none of the new boys scored as a Carlos Tevez brace and a Gareth Barry strike earned City the points. After this a crucial game in Turkey for Roy Hodgson and his men in which it took an own goal and a late Dirk Kuyt winner to send Liverpool through after falling behind to an early goal.
So after a shaky start at least Liverpool are in the group stages of the Europa League. Now for West Brom at Anfield, many people would say 3 points but if not for Fernando Torres expertly turning in a cross for the edge of the box it would have been back to square 1. But still a win is a win. A tricky trip to St. Andrews where Birmingham haven’t lost in over a year. Birmingham dominated for nearly the full game apart from a 10 minute spell in the second half and if not for Pepe Reina excellently redeeming himself for his early season mistake he made 3 or 4 excellent saves and 2 unbelievable stops from Cameron Jerome alone.
The Romainain champions Steaua Bucharest visit Anfield and for once Liverpool look convincing all be it in the scond half goals from Joe Cole, a double from David N’Gog, who is turning into a decent striker and Lucas. So Liverpool going into one of the most watched games in World Football, Manchester United versus Liverpool, after a decent run of results. The game started of slowly and then sprung into life after Torres let Dimitar Berbatov slip and the Bulgarian head United into a 1-0 lead. So Liverpool have a whole half to overturn the deficit, but on the 59th minute the Brilliant Bulgarian’s excellence shone through again with a spectacular bicycle kick. Then 5 minutes later a glimer of hope Jonny Evans hauling down Torres and a penalty is given and Gerrard converts for 2-1. Torres then fouled again but by John O’Shea this time. A free-kick is given and the inspirational Gerrard does what he does best, he finds a gap in the wall and Liverpool have a chance of winning and getting their season back on track. Then 6 minutes from time a hammer blow Berbatov, completing his hat-trick with a header which left Reina helpless.
So now with their season in tatters Liverpool surely could surely kick start it with a win against League 2 Northampton, but they had other ideas. Liverpool went ahead with Jovanovic’s first for the club but McKay equalised for Northampton who dominated the second half . Into extra time they went and Northampton took the lead through a Michael Jocabs tap in. Then N’Gog managed to salvage the goal to take it to extra time, then the dreaded penalties. They impressive N’Gog and Northampton’s Steve Guinan and then after Nathan Eccelston struck the bar Abdul Osman calmly slotted home to send Northampton through.
But although this season hasn’t gone well problems lie far deeper than the football and have so for a while now. Since Graeme Hicks and George Gillette took over the club hasn’t won a trophy. This year could be the 20th year that Liverpool go without a league title and the 5th without a trophy. Now after bringing in the excellent Roy Hodgson what he needs is the funds to take the club forward to winning the league again. Benitez was a great manager at Liverpool some of the things he said were wrong but he still lead them to 2 champions league finals and 1 of which they won. But without funds its useless though Roy Hodgson, tends to bring the best out of players. The signings of Joe Cole, Raul Meireles and Christian Poulsen have added some more class to the squad but what they need is for the club to sell.
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