Not a great game at all but we got the job done. A win, three points and qualification into the last 16 of the Champions League. It was great to have Steven Gerrard back in the team after his injury and it was Captain Fantastic who popped up with the only goal in the first half with a brilliant header from a Xabi Alonso cross.
We bossed the game in the first half and we should have gotten another goal to be sure but it was clear to see that Torres is not fully fit and firing on all cylinders. And this morning I am now hearing that Torres has suffered a potential injury to the same hamstring again. I just hope it is not that serious and he will be back for the game against West Ham on Monday as we need him to be match fit for the rest of the season.
The second half was probably the worst half of football I have seen Liverpool play this season. We just did not get our hands on the ball and Marseille seemed to dominate possession and in the end, they were the ones creating the better goal scoring opportunities. If it were not for the brilliance of Reina in goal and some mean defence from Jamie Carragher, we may have conceded a goal.
I do not think I have seen such a bad performance from Javier Mascherano as the one he put in last night. He just did not seem to be in ‘the zone’ yesterday and all his passes were going astray and to top it off he got booked. I am sure that was a game he would quickly want to forget.
Then at half time, Dossena came on for Aurelio at left back as Aurelio picked up a calf injury in the first half. What a disaster! I do not think I have seen such a bad performance from a full back in such a long time as the one Dossena put in in the second half. I have had my doubts about Dossena all season and last night just made me conclude that Dossena is not our answer for the left back position. He looked terrible. He was beaten too easily by attackers and he almost conceded a penalty after a clumsy challenge on the edge of the box.
It maybe a bit too early to call for players to be sold but unless Dossena has a blinder of a second half of the season, I feel Rafa should let him go back to Italy and try an recoup as much of that 9 million he spent buying him.
All in all, we got the win which is what mattered and now we just have to finish off the job against PSV and hope we finish top of the group.
