Paul Tomkins - official
If you go to a club that is in the top four; that has an unbeaten home record (including victories in various competitions against Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal - twice); that has had an extra 48 hours rest; and that has a starting XI that cost twice as much to assemble, and get a draw, then that, by any stretch of the imagination, is a good result.
When losing at the Eastlands, Man United and Chelsea each conceded two goals. Arsenal conceded seven in their two visits. Yet people tell me it was not a good result.
[...]
If you saw the City game as a do-or-die cup final, then a 0-0 will disappoint. But any away game against a good side in which you don't lose is to be commended. I don't expect people to be punching the air in jubilation, especially as it was a stalemate of a game where defences cancelled each other out, but I do expect some understanding of how gambling for a win can lead to defeat; and how defeat simply had to be avoided. This was their home game, not Liverpool's.
Liverpool's football has lacked cutting edge of late, but the results are actually better than in the early months, when the Reds were winning heavily one week by playing some great expansive football, but then losing the next.
Liverpool conceded two on the opening day, then put four past Stoke; a few days later, the Reds conceded three at home to Villa, followed by two more at Bolton - but in that game they scored three, and put four past Burnley the next fixture.
The Reds shipped two more at West Ham, but won 3-2; then thrashed Hull 6-1, to conclude a hat-trick of thumping victories over teams who came to park the bus - notably with both Johnson and Benayoun heavily involved, and with Torres scoring freely.
Indeed, look at the comparisons. In the first nine games (one quarter of a league season), the Reds scored 18 goals. This was roughly proportionate with the total bagged last season, when the Reds were the league's top scorers.
In the most recent nine Premier League games - criticised by many for being dour - the Reds have scored just nine; down from an average of precisely two a game to just one.
However, in the first nine games, the Reds conceded a whopping 13, with just two clean sheets. In the most recent nine games, a paltry two goals have been shipped, with seven shutouts.
In each of those nine game sequences, the Reds won five times. But the more open games in the autumn led to four defeats; this winter's run of nine matches has seen just one reversal, the unjust defeat at Arsenal (the goal coming shortly after Carragher hobbled off, in a game which a draw would have been a fair result).
All in all, it means that the latest nine-game sequence equates to three extra points: 18 to 15. What's more, clean sheets were kept against Spurs, Villa and Man City, who each scored at least two against the Reds in the first fixtures.
It's worth noting that 18 points from nine games, while not sensational, is only a fraction below what Manchester United, in 2nd place with 57 points as I write, have averaged all season. It's 'good' form. If the Reds can take 22 points from the final eleven games, then a top-four finish is highly likely.
[...]
Even Rinus Michels, the Dutch legend who is credited with the invention of Total Football, said that teams must get things right at the back before they can look to attack properly.
) où un spectateur s'était levé et avait hurlé à l'encontre des joueurs :
