Heroes & Villans[sic]

Sunday: The first half against Aston Villa delivered some of the best football I’ve seen Liverpool play. Slick dispossessions. Smart passes. An insistent yet controlled tempo. If you blinked you’d miss the moment where each promising Villa attack was transformed into a Liverpool assault. Where Liverpool inhaled Villa’s momentum and turned it the other way. It was as if the only point of Villa’s plunges into the Liverpool end were to cock the spring back for the next Red counterattack.

At first, Liverpool could not turn all the beautiful, dynamic approach play into a beautiful, dynamic goal, but none of the supporters watching with me in the pub seemed worried. The football was so gorgeous and convincing, we were content to enjoy the show. Besides, all this brilliance had to translate into a goal at some point. We just knew it.

“What are we watching?” my friend Jamie kept asking. It certainly didn’t look like the Liverpool we’d been watching all season. True, Liverpool had done the double over Chelsea, United and Real Madrid so far, but the flair and panache they were now using to continually strip the ball off Villa before express mailing it up the pitch into deadly positions seemed to exist on an entirely different level. We joked that this was Barcelona disguised in Liverpool kits or that Fox Soccer Channel was experiencing technical difficulties and was airing a tape of Liverpool c. 1978 in place of the live match. We were watching Dalglish, Heighway, Kennedy, Hughes and Clemence even if the names on the backs read Torres, Gerrard, Riera, Carragher and Reina.

But this was no illusion. It was today’s Liverpool, riding the wave of the eight goals they scored in the matches against Real Madrid and Manchester United. Liverpool felled two of Europe’s giants within a week and now they eager to bag maximum points against Aston Villa.

This is not to say Villa are a bad side or they didn’t come to Anfield full of resolve. All the contrary. Villa have had an outstanding season and can only blame their recent slump on a lack of depth. Gabriel Agbonlahor. Gareth Barry. Luke and Ashley Young (no relation). John Carew. Villa are full of talent and have deservedly spent much of the season flirting with next season’s Champions League qualification. Their recent rut has coincided with a burst of good form for Arsenal and Villa have dropped down to fifth place. So they came to Anfield with a fight in them. Ashley Young and Gareth Barry both made decent pushes into threatening areas. Two Young crosses looked threatening, but none of the Villa attackers could find a finish off them.

Villa’s willingness to attack was a boon to Liverpool. Though the Reds have had many senseless draws against defense-minded sides, they have absolutely thrived against attacking opponents. The space left in the wake of Villa’s attacks gave Gerrard, Torres, Riera et al. the room to carve out serious chances. For the first minutes Liverpool’s game had everything but the finish.

Then in the eigth minute Xabi Alonso got his head to the ball after Gerrard’s well taken free kick. Some in our pub began to cheer as the ball looked on it’s way in. But it bounced off the post. Before the emtpy feeling of a miss could sink into our bodies, Dirk Kuyt ate up the ball with a sharp, angled kick. Brad Friedel, Villa’s American keeper, had no chance as the ball careened into the net.

The pub bounced in unison. Though there was 82 minutes to play and Villa would create some threats, we somehow knew the seal had been broken and all Liverpool’s fine build-up play would now lead to an onslaught of goals. Though the commentators kept saying Villa were still in it, it didn’t feel that way. One-nil felt like an insurmountable lead. If Liverpool kept playing like they had in the opening minutes there could be no recovery for the visiting Villans.

The next big moment wasn’t sport. It was art. A long brush stroke across Anfield’s green canvas followed by a burst of pure poetry at the end. Reina kicked the ball upfield where Albert Riera and Fernando Torres were running for the goal. On the bounce, Torres could see the ball was going to fall to Riera so the striker shifted to the right to wait for a cross or a rebound. Neither would come. Riera’s first touch was a perfect shot. He caught the ball on the half volley and sent it sailing. It bounced off the crossbar and landed in the goal.

Riera, who’d looked all but invisible in recent matches, was on fire, tearing into space and outfoxing defenders. On thirty-eight minutes he took down another longball and charged into the box, deftly keeping the ball just out of Nigel Reo-Coker’s reach. Reo-Coker tried to stay close and ended up fouling Riera, sending the winger tumbling. Steven Gerrard soon stepped to the penalty spot and added a third goal to the tally.

The second half was not as impressive in terms of execution, but two more spot kicks would see Liverpool put the match well out of reach for the visitors. On forty-eight minutes, Gerrard converted a free kick from just outside the box, putting it low in the opposite side of the net. Friedel had just started to go in the wrong direction. By the time he corrected himself he had no chance to reach the shot.

Then in the sixty-second minute, Torres found himself one-on-one with Friedel. Once again the keeper’s hesitation was his undoing. Rather than going straight for the ball, he gave Torres enough time to get an extra touch in. The Spaniard tried to maneuver around the keeper who could only hold his ground with no chance on the ball. Torres tumbled over him and the whistle blew.

Now, I love a good opposition sending off. They can be as thrilling as a goal. And the sending off of a keeper is a truly exhilarating thing because of its relative rarity. But considering Liverpool had already won the match at this point, and considering Villa’s next match is against league leaders Manchester United, when the ref held the red card before Friedel’s face, I was devastated.

Despite Villa’s slump, they are one of the sides most likely to cause problems for the Mancunian giants. Manchester will be without Rooney, Vidic and Scholes due to suspension. With these setbacks, top-four hopefuls Villa could at least hold the Red Devils to a draw. Perhaps better. But as I watched their first choice, well-seasoned keeper take the long walk, and their backup keeper, Brad Guzan take to the pitch for his first Premier League appearance ever, I felt disheartened. I almost (almost) wanted Guzan to stop Gerrard’s penalty kick as a sign that he’d be able to keep United out of his goal in two weeks’ time. But as Gerrard fired, Guzan dove the wrong way, so his first League moment was conceding a goal and allowing our captain a hat trick. I was elated for Stevie. But this gave me no extra confidence in Guzan. It was bittersweet.

Five-nil would be the final scoreline. For now, Liverpool have a better goal differential than Chelsea and United and they’ve scored a whopping fifteen goals since their stunning loss to Middlesbrough. They’ve played with such resolve and drive it’s more baffling than ever to think back to the draws against Fulham, Stoke, Hull, etc. and fathom how such a brilliant set of players could have dropped any points this season.

But supporters must wait and hope. Hope that somehow United shed some points and hope that Liverpool can keep this drive alive, keep this momentum going.

Today, Villa won their appeal regarding Friedel’s red card. He’ll be on against United. I can go back and enjoy the replay of his sending off as an isolated event, knowing the consequences have been erased by the FA.

Hopefully, Liverpool can recall that first half against Villa. The deftness and brilliance would give them victory over any side. The question is, will we see it again?

Manchester and Chelsea Drop Points… Can Liverpool Gain Ground?

The world’s finest footballers are known for defining their positions. Henry the striker. Gerrard the midfielder. Cech the keeper. But if you look back in their past they’ve often played roles in other parts of the pitch before finding and defining their niche. Peter Cech was once a midfielder. Steven Gerrard began his Liverpool career as a right back. Henry was a winger before becoming one of the world’s most prolific hitmen.

Paul Scholes, Manchester United’s longtime pivotal midfielder, must have spent some time in goal as a kid. His two-handed, goal-mouth block of Bobby Zamora’s header in Fulham’s 2-0 victory over the Red Devil’s yesterday was a brilliant piece of goal-keeping. But as he wasn’t wearing Edwin van der Sar’s blue shirt, the ref sent him off for the blatant handball. It was a curious move by a veteran like Scholes, but maybe Scholes forgot he was an outfielder and had slipped into some happy childhood memory of playing keeper. Fulham would retain the lead and add another goal before the final whistle.

Elsewhere, Chelsea visited White Hart Lane in a riveting London derby. Spurs were up to the task from the start and after much good possession, Tottenham gained the lead with a fine goal from Luka Modric after service from the newly resigned Aaron Lennon. Chelsea were unable to capitalize on United’s loss. Now Liverpool have the chance to profit from both of these premier league giants dropping points on what could prove to be a pivotal weekend.

A win for Liverpool would bridge the gap to the top to a mere point, though Manchester have a match in hand. More importantly, a good performance for Liverpool tomorrow would continue the momentum the Reds have built since beating Sunderland 2-0 two weeks ago. Since then breathtaking results against Real Madrid and Manchester have given supporters the glimmer of hope that the title may still be within reach.

Even after a win tomorrow, Liverpool would still have much work to do while hoping for more setbacks for their Mancunian neighbors. United would need to drop five points between now and the end of the season with Liverpool dropping no points at the same time. But at the very least, with back to back losses for United, other sides will see that points can be taken off the champs and will follow Liverpool and Fulham’s example in a meaningful way.

Next weekend United will face league upstarts Aston Villa without the help of Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney who are all suspended. Scholes has been an important player for years, but Vidic and and Rooney have been absolutely essential players in the current season. Rooney came back from injury with immediate success to put United on an important streak. Vidic has been a pillar of defense in helping United keep the sheets clean when Red Devil goals have not been in abundance. Liverpool supporters can’t count on it, but Manchester could have problems against Villa with these suspensions in place. Liverpool will need to keep the winning streak going in hopes that the Red Devils slip further.

The title is not quite in reach for Liverpool yet, but yesterday’s results certainly give the Reds reason to continue the good fight.

Fernando Torres: Spainiardicus Devastatii

Manchester United v. Liverpool – 14 March

Nemanja Vidic let the ball bounce, breaking a cardinal rule. (I assume the Cardinals used to prove their piety to the Pope by keeping their footballs as close to the ground as possible. Or something like that.) He might have headed it away if he knew how abruptly Fernando Torres would be on the scene. But instead, thinking either that 1.) he had loads of time or that  2.) Torres had transformed into a tree sloth… Vidic sinfully let the ball bounce.

Torres wasted no time in punishing the Serbian defender. It was like something out of an old roadrunner cartoon. Torres zipped in behind Vidic. Time seemed to stop. I expected some kind of sound effect like swoosh as Torres swooped in and boing as he slowed to make his move, and then Torres’ faux latin name would appear on the screen: Spainiardicus Devastatii. Or something like that.

What really happened is this: Liverpool’s star strike hooked his leg around Manchester United’s star centre back and booted the ball forward into space, beyond Vidic’s reach. Vidic dutifully lost his balance and tumbled to the ground. It was a wonderful mix of athleticism and slapstick. Torres ran onto the ball with enough time and space to himself to manufacture a genius moment.

Torres was now one-on-one with keeper Edwin van der Sar. But by my math it was more like one-on-none. In fact, van der Sar might have later wondered why he didn’t sit down and have a rest, as he would need his energy for Liverpool’s coming goal onslaught. Or maybe he should have brought a book.

Though van der Sar has had an amazing year with more clean sheets than a toilet paper factory, much of his success has always relied on having the world’s greatest defense between him and serious threat. But Torres had shrugged that defense off with guile, determination and downright carniverious hunger. He’d yet to score on Liverpool’s arch-rivals since joining the Merseyside outfit and this was perhaps the finest chance he could have. Torres ran in, waited for the perfect moment and deftly fired the ball low into the opposite corner. Vidic held his hands to his head. The Reds were level.

For Liverpool, who rarely score at Old Trafford, the goals would keep coming. Patrice Evra tackles Steven Gerrard in the box. Gerrard converts the penalty on 44 minutes. In the second half, Vidic gives Gerrard an impromptu physical as Liverpool’s captain charges toward the box. I couldn’t tell if Gerrard was turning and coughing as Vidic pulled him down. Vidic gets the red card. Fabio Aurelio converts the free-kick on 77 minutes. Few would have expected a ten man Man U to come back against such a convincing Liverpool performance, (although, the hosts did make some penetrating runs and threaten from set play), but few would have expected Andrea Dossena, subbed on for Albert Riera, to cap of the evening with a stoppage time goal bursting with cheek. Running onto another poorly defended long ball, Dossena beat out his cover and caught the ball with a side-foot-full-volley-chip-lob. Exactly. The strangeness of the goal was only amplified by the fact this was Dossena’s second goal ever for Liverpool, his first coming one match before in the 4-0 drubbing of Real Madrid.

The win was a team effort, but Torres blazed the trail. He broke through Man U’s brick wall defense and brought the Reds back on terms after being a goal down in a stadium where goals, nevermind wins, have not been coming Liverpool’s way in recent years.

The kid opened the floodgates.

Two successful spot kicks came from Gerrard following the Torres route, and Dossena’s chip was a fine echo of Torres turning a long ball into a goal.

Liverpool came to Old Trafford with difficult gaps in the roster, key players Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa both out with injury, and with Torres himself showing signs that he was not fully recovered from his recent injury hiatus. But both Torres and Liverpool called up the mental fitness to dissect their oldest and usually undissectable arch-foes.

The kid really is something special. And if he stays fit, there should be plenty more of these displays in Liverpool’s future. Hopefully Setanta, Sky Sports, et al. cue up the sound effects for the next time.

Derby Day: Manchester United v. Liverpool FC

When the EPL releases the fixture list at the beginning of the season, I always scan through, looking for the big matches. I like to get a feel of the rhythm of the season, when the climaxes may fall, when Liverpool will have the largest obstacles, when I’ll need to take time off from work. Also, it’s important to start planning the excuses early in case a family reunion falls on an important match weekend.

So I’d been anticipating Saturday’s fixture against United since summer. But if you told me then Liverpool would be a mere seven points clear of the top and that this match could be Liverpool’s last chance to bring the title within reach in the final months, I would have slapped you across the face in disbelief. (I would have apologized and gotten you some ice almost immediately, but, c’mon: stand back if you’re going to suggest something outrageous like that!)

A win tomorrow doesn’t mean trophy number nineteen will join the other glories in Liverpool’s cabinet. Though, a win for United will almost certainly mean the title for them. No, a Liverpool win would simply gives supporters the will to keep hoping for a few more weeks. Hoping the Reds can keep winning and that United slip, more than once, somewhere, somehow.

Statistics lend no comfort. Liverpool have not secured a single point at Old Trafford under Rafael Benitez. In recent years, a draw would be deemed a fantastic result when trekking down the road to play United. But tomorrow we need something more if Liverpool hope to fight for anything higher than second place.

For comfort, for courage we can look to the other big matches of the season. In the home match against United, Rafa beat the Red Devils for the first time in his Liverpool career. A 2-1, come-from-behind win. I lost my voice screaming in glee when Javier Mascherano found Ryan Babel in front of goal and Babel’s piercing shot screamed past Van Der Sar, putting Liverpool ahead when they had gone down a goal in the opening minutes.

Liverpool brought Chelsea’s juggernautish, unbeaten home record to a halt with the 0-1 win at Stamford Bridge in October. Xabi Alonso’s goal was enough to secure all the points, but Liverpool’s great passing game and pressure kept Chelsea from any convincing rebuttal. Liverpool supporters would have been happy with a point at the Bridge. Instead they got three. At the time, it felt like a miracle.

Chelsea’s visit to Anfield brought three more points for Liverpool, this time with two late goals from Fernando Torres. Video replay would show Chelsea midfield goliath Frank Lampard should not have been sent off for his “tackle” on Xabi Alonso, but once again, Liverpool’s determined possession and pressure even against the full Blue xi revealed that while they’ve struggled against Stoke and Middlesbrough, they can dominate the best sides in Europe. Liverpool would have won against a full xi. I’m sure of it. It might have been 1-0 or 2-0 but they were always going to win.

Liverpool come into the United match after an unbelievable 5-0 aggregate win against Real Madrid, having scored four goals Tuesday night when the European giants visited Anfield. We must remember, Rafa Benitez has a knack for understanding and breaking down the Spanish sides after his great successes with Valencia, and we cannot expect United to leave so much space for Liverpool attacks. United are the consummate professionals at keeping a rigid defense while mounting serious attacks.

But what the Madrid victory gives Liverpool is a crushing wave on which they could be riding high. If Liverpool can continue the momentum, if the players can pass and attack with the vigor they displayed against Real, they’ll have a serious chance.

Statistically and historically, a win at Old Trafford would be a supreme upset for Liverpool. Spiritually it could be just the prescription to cure the ailments they’ve shown against the middle- and lower-table sides. If they can bag the points at OT tomorrow and translate the success into dominance over the rest of the teams they face in the League, they might have a chance, no matter how slim, to win the title. It will depend on United slipping further, but if Liverpool win tomorrow, they will also show other sides that United can be beaten. They’ll leave the door open for Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Manchester City and others to take a shot at the Champions. And from there, who knows?

I don’t expect Liverpool to win the league. But if they start by defying expectations at Old Trafford tomorrow, I won’t give up on the dream either.

Waiting for Ryan Babel…

When I first saw Ryan Babel play for Liverpool, I thought, here is a massive signing. During his brief, subbed-on debut against Aston Villa, abundant pace and skill seemed bundled up in his feet, ready to burst forth once the kid found his Premier League legs. Dutch players are known for adapting to the EPL quickly. See: van Nistelrooy. See: van Persie. Ryan Babel would soon impact Liverpool’s attacking play: I felt certain.

While we were all examining pricey wunderkind Fernando Torres closely, wondering if the Spaniard would live up to the hype and the price tag (in retrospect, 20mil seems like a bargain, doesn’t it?), Ryan Babel floated into Anfield from Ajax comparatively under the radar for 11.5m. Supporters had hopes for the kid to be sure. But the expectations were not the same as those we laid upon Torres. And while Torres was enthralling supporters and breaking opposition hearts with his 33 goals, Babel was quietly trying to display his mettle whenever Rafa Benitez fielded him.

I saw Babel as another Luis Garcia, one of my favorite players when I first began following the Reds. I felt long term injury kept Garcia from realizing his full potential for Liverpool. Though I cannot complain about the deal that sent the Spanish winger to Atletico Madrid since the same deal brought Torres to Anfield, I had really hoped to see Garcia given another chance to return to first team play and show what he could do as a settled player with Premier League experience.

For me Ryan Babel was a second chance at what Luis Garcia could no longer offer. Babel would need time to settle into the league and grow as a player. Like Garcia, Babel was a winger-striker. Living in flux between two roles. Delightfully elusive.  An attacking player with flair and inventiveness. Unafraid to take that crazy shot on goal while also able to carve out danger down the flank and create that deadly chance for a teammate. I could see all this in Ryan Babel. He just needed time.

My excitement seemed to be ratified by his insane goal against Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League semifinals. While Chelsea would knock Liverpool out of the competition, Babel’s goal was part of an extra-time Red surge that almost brought victory back within Liverpool’s reach. From 35 yards out, Babel fired an absolute rocket. Peter Cech was caught off guard and off balance. While Cech managed to get a hand to it, the Dutchman’s ball was much too much to handle and the big keeper could only push it into the far side of the net. Goal. Babel brought Liverpool within sight of victory. The Reds wouldn’t make it to the final, but for supporters, the wondergoal was a signal: all the promise Ryan Babel had hinted at with his speed and footwork throughout his first season, might just blossom into something truly special in 2008/2009.

Enter Albert Riera.

Liverpool’s 2008 transfer window may have seemed innocuous and understated following the Summer of Torres, but one attacking purchase turned out to be a serious step forward. For a reported 8m, Albert Riera joined Liverpool’s ranks. Liverpool had been longing for a quality out-and-out leftside winger for ages. Harry Kewell’s injury woes prevented him from reaching the potential he had shown with Leeds. Bolo Zenden rarely influenced the match with Liverpool the way he did with Middlesbrough and, later, Marseille. Riera was proving himself on the wing almost immediately.

Riera quickly carved out a deserved spot in Rafa Benitez’s starting XI. Full of guile and vision, the Spaniard left countless defenders behind and launched the ball into all the dangerous spaces. He even had an eye for goal himself. Between Riera’s remarkable start to the season and Dirk Kuyt‘s dogged consistency on the right, Ryan Babel was relegated to the bench. Babel became Rafa’s supersub. Coming on in the late minutes to try and use his pace to outwit tiring back lines. But he’s shown little growth since his first signs of potential in the fall of 2007. Competing for pitch has not helped his Anfield education.

Supersub could be a decent role for the pacy, goalminded Dutchman, but what the kid really needs is starts.

Babel should be far more mature than he is after almost two full years in England. He should have an eye for when to pass and when to penetrate. He still seems to get it wrong half the time. But when he gets it right, we can see what an exciting, dynamic player he can be.

Perhaps the best thing for Ryan Babel would be a go in the second striker role. With Robbie Keane gone, Babel may have a chance to establish a striking partnership with Torres. Given time they could forge an effective dynamic and playing just behind the prolific Torres would give Babel a chance to allow his best guises to cohabitate: goal-provider and goal-scorer.

The only problem with this is that Liverpool play their utmost best when Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard are all on the pitch together. This usually pushes Gerrard into an advanced midfield role with Torres as the sole striker.

Perhaps the key for Ryan is finding his place in Rafa’s system. If he has one, he’ll get the starts. If he gets the starts, he’ll can grow into the player we all know he can be.

If he remains patient with Liverpool, Babel’s youth will prove to be a great advantage. Benitez clearly rates him. Given time to mature, Ryan Babel could prove to be an invaluable asset in Liverpool’s quest for title number 19, which also happens to be the number he wears on his back. He may not be in the starting formula today, but he’s got a long footballing future ahead of him. If he stays at Anfield, he may make the number 19 part of Liverpool’s history in more ways than one.

At least one supporter hopes to see it. Time holds the answer.

A Tale of Two Liverpool Football Clubs

There have been two Liverpool FCs this season.

There is the side who beat Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid. Facing the best teams in the world, Liverpool played out of their skin. Against Chelsea and Manchester United they mixed a tight passing game with consistent possession to keep fierce pressure on the domestic giants, forcing them to concede. They beat Manchester for the first time in years and they broke Chelsea’s long unbeaten home streak. Against Real, Liverpool doggedly fended off the Spanish side’s persistent attacks and eventually stole the first leg with a fantastic away goal, headed home by Yossi Benayoun from a set play that came after steady pressure.

The other Liverpool FC dropped points in ten draws and two losses against mid and lower table sides. The Liverpool who felled Europe’s giants would be expected to dominate and destroy the likes of Stoke, Hull, Fulham, West Ham, Middlesbrough and even Tottenham. But it was not to be. The inspiration, drive and confidence the Reds displayed at Stamford Bridge and the San Bernabeu was nowhere to be found during the trip to White Hart Lane or to today’s visit to Riverside Stadium.

Liverpool looked the dominant side during the first half hour of play. Even after Xabi Alonso’s own goal from a Boro corner, supporters should have expected Liverpool to recover from the setback. The Merseyside club had already forced Boro’s Brad Jones to make saves in front of goal and had Liverpool kept on the pressure, surely he would be forced to concede goals to a Red onslaught.

But instead Liverpool’s drive evaporated. The own-goal took the wind from their lungs and the pace from their legs. Another Boro goal in the second half seemed to seal Liverpool’s fate, and despite positive substitutions from Rafa Benitez, the Reds could not recover from the deficit.

Had the first Liverpool shown up every week this season, the Reds could have  feasibly added another twenty points to their tally, accepting that the draws against Aston Villa, Arsenal and Manchester City are acceptible for true title contenders.  Instead they will surely be fighting for second place while Manchester United collect another title.

If Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres regain and maintain their fitness, it is reasonable to think Liverpool can challenge for another Champions League trophy, since further advancement would mean facing more of the strong sides who bring out the very best in Liverpool, we can expect the first Liverpool to show up to the matches.

But there will have to be a reckoning come the next transfer window.  Fernando Torres cannot be Liverpool’s only star striker. They will need more convincing firepower to support and cover the Spanish genius. The attacking width of Albert Riera, Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio has been great for the Reds, but they could use some more wide creativity on the right hand side. An Arjen Robben or even a Shaun Wright-Phillips could make a huge difference in Liverpool’s attack and ability to break down the ten-men-behind the ball sides who have persistently prevented the Reds from securing the three points again and again.

This year Liverpool have stayed in the race longer than they have in years.  Liverpool have given Manchester United a true title challenge until today with far less resources than Sir Alex Ferguson’s side can boast. They have it in them to beat the biggest sides in Europe. But when they learn how to consistently beat the smaller sides in England, Liverpool will finally be able to take home title number 19.

Liverpool’s Title Hopes Dashed?

Liverpool supporters were devastated when former Red striker Craig Bellamy’s deflected shot flew home to put Manchester City up one-nil in the 49th minute yesterday. Liverpool entered the match eight points behind Manchester United, and players and supporters alike don’t need reminding: their side cannot afford to concede many more points.

Dirk Kuyt’s fine equalizer rescued a point for the Merseyside hopefuls, but a win would have kept them firmly in the race. There is still room for hope in the famous Anfield boot room.

Manchester United must still visit. Spurs, Boro and Newcastle: three sides with varied form, but who tend to cause problems for the big four. They also host Arsenal and Aston Villa and have the Manchester derby before the season ends.

Liverpool have already secured a win against Man U and they ended Chelsea’s long home unbeaten run. If they can translate the confidence and belief from these successes into a win at Old Trafford on 14 March, they can cut the lead to 4 points. Then it would only take two Man U draws for Liverpool to pull level. Assuming they will all their remaining matches.

It seems a lot to ask, so many United points dropped and a flawless run to see out Liverpool’s season, but as anyone who watched the Red comeback against AC Milan in 2005 knows: miracles happen in football.

Liverpool must go for it. Full strength. Full belief. The return of Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso and a good result against Real Madrid in Wednesday’s Champions League fixture could be just the boost the Merseyside club need. But even if they don’t win the league this season, it will be important to keep fighting and keep improving. This is already their best season since 1990. There’s plenty to build on and plenty left to dream for Liverpool FC.

Eduardo’s Injuries, Wenger’s Ulcer

Martin Taylor says his only intent was to strip the ball. If this was the case, Eduardo da Silva’s touch was too quick and too deft for the Birmingham man, and the result was disaster.  As Taylor went in for the tackle, Eduardo was pushing the ball to the side to maneuver around the charging defender. Taylor’s studs flew past the ball and crashed into Eduardo’s shin. At full speed, viewers may have thought the way Eduardo’s leg bent was a trick of the eye, but slow-motion replay revealed otherwise. His foot and ankle made an angle that has no place in the body’s vocabulary. (Click to see the still, but it’s not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.) The Arsenal striker’s leg was severely broken by the ugly, mistimed tackle. This was just as the young hitman was coming alive in the Premier League. Everyone could see he’d been good, especially with his Champions League performances,  but his potential and promise in the domestic league were just starting to bloom into serious goal-scoring prolificacy. Eduardo had a bright future with Arsenal. This was derailed on 23 February 2008.

Recently, Eduardo returned to first team action in FA Cup replay action against Cardiff. Ardent supporters of any club are normally prepared to be patient with a returning player. Especially after a long injury. A player often needs time to get back to match fitness, even when he’s getting the starts.  Eduardo scored two goals his first match back. He’d been out of action for nearly a year. The feeling of Arsenal supporters must have been pure elation.

Arsenal went most of this season with  Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie carrying the bulk of striking responsabilities. Both have had bouts of injury. Fine strikers, but surely Arsene Wenger must have been dying for more forward options. Especially as Arsenal has struggled with results at various points throughout the season. Now, with Russian Euro star Andrei Arshavin joining the ranks and Eduardo returning, the French manager has four great strikers to choose from. It’s as if he’s made two new signings rather than one.

Unfortunately, almost immediately after returning, Eduardo departed again with a hamstring injury. Wenger said this happened two minutes before he was about to take the striker off. The Croation international is only supposed to miss two weeks, but this is a major frustration for player, manager and side. After spending a year itching to return, two more weeks must seem like another lifetime to Eduardo who only wants to run onto that pitch and score his goals.

Surely he will do so again.

A hamstring injury can often raise alarms as it can be a recurring problem if not tended to properly, and while Arsenal will be hoping for a quick recovery, they will have to be cautious, keeping the player’s long-term health in mind. With Aston Villa in remarkable form, Arsenal are going to have to work hard to secure a fourth place finish in a troublesome season. Eduardo could be an important factor in that goal. Supporters, players and Wenger’s ulcer will all breath a sigh of relief when the kid returns for good. And he’ll probably score a goal or two when he does.

Ashley Young’s Guns

Imagine Ashley Young bursting into the penalty box, clad in Michael Palin’s Spanish Inquisitor costume, fists on hips, proudly rattling off his best attributes: Amongst my weaponry are such diverse elements as speed, invention, passing, crossing, ruthless efficiency, a nice claret and blue uniform… ah… I’ll come in again!

Weaponry indeed. He may be Aston Villa’s most valuable asset. Bought as a striker for an initial £8m from Watford, Young has since been deployed on both wings and in the hole just behind the forwards, with much success. While Young is a true threat on goal, his real impact comes from his brilliance at playmaking and assisting. He made 15 assists in his first full season for Villa last year with 1069 succesful passes. This was a mere 221 fewer passes than recent PFA winner Cristiano Ronaldo made in the same season and more than twice as many assists.

Liverpool have Stephen Gerrard. Manchester United have Ronaldo. Everton have Mikel Arteta. Many credit Carlos Tevez with saving West Ham from relegation in 2007.  Pedro Mendes may have done the same for Portsmouth the season before that. The pivotal player is not merely one who is gifted and versatile on the ball, but also one who lifts his teammates and elevates their level of play. Sometimes it’s a matter of leadership. Sometimes it’s simply allowing other players to trust you fully, knowing your attacks and possession will be so convincing, they can enjoy the confidence to take risks and cause danger as you create space and soak up the defenders who rightly fear all you can do on and off the ball.

Many would assert it is Gareth Barry who fills this pivotal role for Villa, and such an argument has plenty of merit. But in my opinion Young has been a veritable lighting rod for the Villans this season. Apart from a three-match ban after a dangerous, two-footed tackle on Sunderland’s Dean Whitehead, Young has had a pristine season. The threats he creates for himself and for others is unsettling to defenders and he has a knack for putting his opponents off balance with the simplist of turns and drives. His ability to create space, retain the ball and service his fellow attackers in key moments has been one of the utmost importance to Villa’s impressive current standing in the table. And since Gabby Agbonlahor, Villa’s top striker, is one who relies on a good delivery from his supporting attackers, Young is the perfect midfield foil to the tall, pacy hitman.

As of this writing, Villa are in third place, a mere five points shy of the top. So far they’ve shown serious intent to build on their good standing in recent years and this could be the season they finish in the top four and enjoy a campaign in next season’s Champions League. The upcoming match hosting Chelsea will be an important test. If Villa lose, they slide down to fourth. If they win, they will enjoy a five point buffer over the Blues as well as plenty of confidence and resolve from having defeated a league giant.

Expect Ashley Young to continue to fight hard for his team’s success. His pace and creativity will be all important against Chelsea. And it’s very likely that his threat from advanced positions will cause Chelsea to commit multiple players to shutting him down, opening up more space for Agbonlahor, Heskey, Barry, et al. Even if Young doesn’t deliver the killer goal or assist, his presence will influence the match and give a lift to his teammates, against Chelsea and against the other challenges to come as Villa strive to build on their impressive run of results.

Nobody expected the Ashley Young inquisition. Not all that weaponry for a mere £8m anyway.

Last Gasp Drama – Liverpool’s Late Winners

Yossi Benayoun collected the ball and dragged it past the Portsmouth defender, pushing into space in the far left corner of the box. His short cross floated into traffic, but as the defenders shifted forward, Liverpool’s Fernando Torres held his ground, allowing the space to be created for him, rather than carving it out for himself. It was a subtle act of instinctive genius and it gave the Spanish striker the perfect angle to head the ball with such strength and accuracy, keeper David James could do nothing but push it into the top of his own net. This was one minute into stoppage time, and the sixth time Liverpool were able to secure maximum points in the final minutes of a league match this season.

The contests against Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Manchester City, Wigan Athletic, Chelsea and Portsmouth all included a winning goal in the 83rd minute or later. In the case of Chelsea, Liverpool won two-nil, but both Torres’ goals came after the 89th minute. Four of these matches were come-from-behind wins with the equalizers also coming late in the match. Last season’s Liverpool would not seem likely to pull out these last gasp winners, but now there seems to be an underlying diligence to Liverpool’s play as the pressure of a dwindling clock imposes itself. While the Reds have dropped some surprising points (nine draws), the fact they can pull out the win in the dying moments, when the results look certain, shows they may well have the spark needed to finally end the eighteen-year title drought.

Torres has often been the key to these late wins. He’s contributed six goals to the matches mentioned above. He has a gift for turning the smallest of opportunities into an explosive goal, which has made all the difference as the clock winds down. Dirk Kuyt has made an impact as well. The Dutchman is not known for being prolific since he moved to England, but lately he has  a knack for getting on the sheets when it matters most.  He’s only had a handful of goals this season, but most of them have either put Liverpool level after being behind or have secured the win in late drama.

Much criticism has been levied upon Liverpool for missing chances and squandering potential in a season that has been full of promise. And surely supporters kept hoping for a late goal when Liverpool dropped points against Villa, Stoke, Tottenham, Fulham, Hull, Arsenal, Stoke again, West Ham and Everton.  With these disappointments, Liverpool will be seven points behind Manchester United if the champs win their match in hand against Fulham on Wednesday. This is still the best start Liverpool have had to a season since they last won the league in 1990, but there is little room for error. Manchester are not going to drop many points in the remaining months: Liverpool cannot afford too many more mistakes.

The season itself may become a reflection of a come-from-behind match. Right now Liverpool are a goal down in the table. Though the season’s clock ticks down, there is still time enough for a couple of late miracles. With the knowledge they can pull these wins out of nowhere, Liverpool need to call up the essential grit throughout the upcoming matches, not just in the final minutes. If they play like they’ve played in the dying moments of these dramatic matches for an entire ninety minutes, they will have a clear and convincing chance to win the league. The form is there. Liverpool just need to maintain the winning mentality.

The Reds have consistantly played their best against their biggest rivals, winning once against Manchester United so far and twice against Chelsea. Liverpool thrive against the sides who attack. As long as they don’t give up too many goals, Rafa Benitez’s men can take advantage of the space left by the forward-minded teams, and at the same time, Liverpool are pushed  to play at a higher level by the energy and imperative spirit of a big match. The ten-men-behind-the-ball sides  are the ones who give Liverpool the most problems. When the space closes up in the attacking third, Liverpool cannot seem to find ways to break defenses down.

But this was Liverpool’s problem last season as well. The Reds struggled with many senseless draws in the 2007/08 season, finally finding consistent, successful form in the later part of the season after a brilliant win against Inter Milan sparked a fantastic fun of results both in Europe and at home. Perhaps the recent two-nil toppling of Chelsea followed by the great win against Portsmouth will prove to be the ignition point for Liverpool’s current season. The difference between this year and last is the top of the table is not yet out of sight. If Liverpool can find the winning formula and break down the sides who come to play for a draw, there is still time to catch up with Manchester United. Even as the clock ticks down.