Spurs VS Liverpool : Match Review

Once again, Spurs came back from behind to beat the opponent
as Aaron Lennon scored in a one-to-one situation after terrible
defensing by Konchesky allow Lennon to nick in from behind.
The Reds performed well in this very open end-to-end game with
many shots but poor finishing and woeful defensing destroyed what
should be a justified 1-1 draw or better.

Reds started the game full of ambition and vigour as the midfield
pairing of Lucas and Meireles controlled the central area and Kuyt
and Maxi were flying on both flanks. Both team have a number of
chances to opening the scoring and with the attacking-minded players
looking and searching for spaces for a decent scoring opportunities.
All the midfield players, Lucas, Maxi, Meireles and Kuyt registered
shots but were unable to open the scoring. The Reds were help in its
course with Van der Vaart limping off just 10 minutes of play and
Kaboul were injured and off too in the 35th minutes.

Liverpool finally broke the deadlock with Skrtel scoring in the 42th
minutes and what followed really angered me in the last few minutes
of match action before the break. Spurs came fighting for an equalizer
before the break and that leave gaps in their defense and both Maxi
and Torres have clear-cut chances to put away the game or at least
secure a comfortable lead into the dressing room. Both failed to do
so, and Liverpool went into the break with a mere thin lead of a single goal.

After the break, Torres were again presented with an glorious open one-to-one
opportunity to increas the Reds' lead but he again failed to shoot in time
before the challenge from the defender arrived. Both team continued
where they left off before the break and aerial and groundbombardments
were plentiful in the match with a total of 30 shots and 12 shot-on-target
in the match. Gareth Bale were very lively and full of running in the match,
and on occasions, even a double-team of Johnson and Kuyt or Lucas
can't even stop him from delivering crosses into the danger zone, and he
also got a goal-destined shot cleared off at the line by Meireles.

Spurs were "handled" a penalty after Ngog jumped with both arms aloft in the
wall after being awarded a free-kick and the referee pointed to the penalty
spot. I was expecting Bale to step-up to the task but Defoe decided he
should be the executor. He fired his shot wide and he will really be
executed by Harry if that penalty miss cost his team dearly. 
Spurs' first goal eventually came in the 65th minutes after Lukas
Modric burst into the box with amazing speed and wonderful ball-control
and his toe-poke cross can only be diverted into his own net by a desperate
last-minute lunge by Skrtel. The scoreline was even again.

Both teams had their chances to win the game but steady and stubborn
defense from both side canceled any attacks. I was thinking to myself that
a 1-1 draw wasn't a bad result with Carragher out injured with a dislocated
shoulder in the 87th minutes and his 450th match for the Reds. The world
came crashing down in  the 92th minutes after Aaron Lennon darted
past the terrible Konchesky after Crouch had headed the ball down and
beat Reina in a one-to-one situation. Why can't Torres and Maxi do the same
in this situation!!
Final score in White Hart Lane, Spur 2 - 1 Liverpool, and this is incidentally
the same scoreline at the same pitch for 3 consecutive seasons.

Liverpool may have won the match if the finishing from Torres and
Maxi were better, but we can't put on all the blames on the 2 players now.
The team indeed performed well in this match after being labeled
as the underdog, and a 1-1 draw is definitely a more justified and
deserving scoreline. If the team play in this manner in every match,
we can beat any team along the way.

After the match, it was revealed that Carragher will be out for at
least a month after having a dislocated shoulder and the FA Cup
3rd round draw also put the team against Manchester United which
was scheduled to be played on 9th January 2011. It will be a cracking
match to look forward to.

Liverpool managed to get 7 points out of the possible 15 from the last
5 matches with victories against Chelsea and West Ham, defeats at
Stoke and Spurs and a single draw with Wigan. The next 5 matches
will be:

6th Dec  Liverpool VS Aston Villa

11th Dec Newcastle VS Liverpool
18th Dec Liverpool VS Fulham
26th Dec Blackpool VS Liverpool
29th Dec Liverpool VS Wolves

As what Hodgson said, there are not easy matches against the weaker
team nowaday, but I am still looking at a 11-13 points from the maximum
15 points. I hope I will be right this time.
Liverpool will travel to Romania to face Steaua Bucuresti this Friday
in the Europa League group match, and it is confirmed that Hodgson
will field a side without many first-team players like Torres and Kuyt,
and give the young players a chance to shine again.

You Will Never Walk Alone!