Sep
28
Liverpool v Hull City post match analysis
Filed Under Liverpool FC | 7 Comments
I enjoyed Liverpool v Hull more than any other game I’ve watched live in quite a while. The Kop was in good voice. Torres was elegant and graceful; he passed the ball into the net. And, to underline Luis Aragones point, he still hasn’t scored the same goal twice. Even when Hull scored the equaliser the end result was never in doubt*.
The Guardian has already highlighted the improved contribution of Albert Riera – which closes down another route into the team for Ryan Babel – but three further things stood out for me:
1. Gerrard isn’t as effective as a central midfielder
Andy Gray thinks that Liverpool are winning games that they drew last season because Gerrard is playing deeper and Liverpool are playing with two strikers. This misses the fact that Gerrard was playing as the second striker in those games last year, but Torres was unfit. Gray also ignores the fact that Gerrard is more effective playing higher up the pitch. Compare his contribution against Hull this year to last. Look at the number of telling contributions he made this year, compared with last.
by Guardian Chalkboards
Now tell me that Gerrard is better playing deeper.
2. Defence is about responsibility
Yes, Carragher was much better against Hull. He probably deserved his 8/10 from The Times. And it was Martin Skrtel’s fault that he didn’t win the header which led to Geovanni‘s goal. But if Carragher hasn’t also challenged for that header – if he hadn’t had tried to do Skrtel’s job for him – he may have been better placed to deal with the knock down to Geovanni.
All ifs, buts and maybes, granted. But it’s the third time this season when Carragher has gone in for a header that wasn’t his only to miss it and cause trouble for the reds defensively. And I think that was the point that Benitez was making before the game; trying to boost Carragher’s confidence and show him that sometimes he’s trying to do more than one job.
3. The limits of statistics
Look at these two games and tell me which Liverpool when (assuming you can’t guess the Guardian chalkboards colour coding). One was the game against Villa at home and the other against Hull.
Liverpool shots
Liverpool shots (2)
Yes, you guessed it: the second graphic was against Hull where we had 8 shots on target, compared with 9 against Villa. Lies and statistics!
* I did think Liverpool would win 6-0 with a Torres hattrick. Honestly. Just because when I woke up on Saturday morning I felt as rough and hesitant about going as I did for the game against Derby County two years ago. Then I didn’t go, and we won 6-0 so I used it as motivation on Saturday.
Related posts:
- Liverpool reserves v Hull City post match analysis
- Liverpool v Burnley post match analysis
- Liverpool v Manchester City reserves: post match analysis
- Bolton v Liverpool post match analysis
- West Ham v Liverpool post match analysis
Hi Matthew!
Good piece this and thanks for your comments on my blog.
Just had a wander around other posts too
JP
Good analysis, although I would argue it doesn’t matter what is better for Gerrard, it’s what’s better for the team. I think Rafa’s got it spot on playing him deeper against “lesser” teams and freeing up Yossi Benayoun to play the roving role behind Torres. Gerrard can perform effectively in centre mid and, unlike Mascherano, can offer an attacking threat too. I think once Agger returns as well he will be encouraged to bring the ball out of defence, something we have missed. With Agger, Gerrard and the attacking full backs allied to the usual attacking threats, I think we will enjoy much more success against teams that try to “park the bus”.
Cheers
Robbo
http://www.robbohuyton.blogspot.com
I agree absolutely. Although I think Gerrard is still feeling his way back into the role. I think he was poor playing in the middle against Aston Villa, Bolton and Hull. But you’re right that with Agger back, it will allow the midfield to step up 5 yards or so.
Aurelio will be an important option at full back, too. It was noticeable that for the Hull goal neither Insua nor Riera busted a gut to get back and cover. Both were trotting back when the goal went in.
Thanks Jean Paul. I’ll keep an eye on your site and see what I can learn. I’m new to writing about LFC.
A good piece on a good blog.
But, as you point out in item 3, statistics can often fail to tell the full story. I argue that this is the case with point 1.
Firstly, in order to examine a player’s influence on a game, you don’t just measure the number and position of passes attempted and completed. What about the number of tackles and interceptions? Free-kicks won?
The debate over Gerrard’s best position has been going on for years, thankfully it’s dropped out of the limelight somewhat (even if only to be replaced by zonal marking). My view is this: Gerrard is a superb right-back, right-mid, centre-mid and support striker. Where he plays depends just as much on the team around him as it does on him.
GW – I don’t really want to get into the debate about Gerrard’s best position. It was boring enough back in 05/06. Incidentally, if you use the chalkboards, I think you’ll find that his deeper position doesn’t indicate that he’s done a lot more defensively.
But the reason I’m really interested in this new Gerrard role is the arrival of Aquilani. Everyone said he was a gamble because he would play further up the field than Gerrard, breaking the Torres / Gerrard axis that was so effective last season. Benitez has done that already – without Aquilani – and in terms of the balance of the team, it’s working so far – even if it’s taking Gerrard time to adapt.
[...] story was not new. The conversation happened on the day of the Liverpool v Hull City [...]