Before the game, if you had told me that we were going to get a 1-1 draw I would have been happy. I had actually predicted that the game would end 1-1. So I maybe happy that I got my prediction spot on but after the 90 minutes I am really disappointed with the result as we should have won this game with ease. We bossed the first half and large parts of the second half but were never able to get that killer second goal to put the game to bed.
To start off with, I was a bit surprised with the starting lineup Rafa went with: Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena, Agger, Carragher, Yossi, Mascherano, Alonso, Riera, Gerrard and Keane. With Kuyt being in red hot form, I thought he would start. But Rafa’s selection seemed to pay off as we controlled the first half and took a lead through a Robbie Keane goal. How Keane failed to make it two is a mystery to me! Why go for the fancy when you should just think about scoring the goal? I am not too sure who Keane was trying to impress with his effort just after he scored. I am sure Rafa gave him a serious talking to after the game and told him to leave the fancy stuff at home. When you 5-0 then you can try back heels but not when you 1-0 up away from home. But with that said, I am glad Keane got another goal under his belt. Maybe now he can start scoring more consistently.
Atletico seemed to come to the party in the second half when Aguero came onto the field. He provided them with more attacking options and they started to put us under pressure. They finally scored in the closing stages of the game thanks to an error of judgment by Carragher. Carragher should have just cleared the ball the first time and not allowed it to bounce. We were punished for some poor defending!
But with that said we still remain unbeaten this season and are still in a very good position to progress to the knock out stages. Of worry though are the injuries we picked up. Keane, Alonso and Gerrard were all taken off the field as they had picked up minor knocks and Gerrard was just physically tired. Hopefully they can recover in time for Sunday as that is the one that counts.
Reading the reports this morning, Rafa is not too happy with the result yesterday and he like me feel we let the game slip and we have dropped 2 points rather than gaining one. Maybe we play better if the opposition scores first!
Same here, would have taken a draw but a bit miffed we didn’t take max points. Somebody on the site this week said we had Babel if Torres was injured. Well lets hope Torres aint injured too much if thats what we have to look at week in week out. Sorry but I have lost it with him and can’t see him making the grade at Liverpool.
He cannot hold on to the ball and gives it away too easiy which led to their goal. For a Dutchman his link up play is poor. Our defending on the left hand side was woeful. They had already been warned when they hit the post but they still let him make an identical overlap.
As for Keane – he acted as if he is the all time leading goal scorer for the club and I hope he has been roasted by Rafa or Gerrard for treating the chance to go 2-0 up with such contempt. You pray for chances like that in the CL and he makes a fool of himself trying to score a wonder goal. Lets up for a more unified performance at Chelsea on Sunday. Thats if we can field a fit team and it doesn’t look good with os many niggly injuried to our top players.