Premier League
Sunday 7th October 2012
Anfield
Anfield
Liverpool VS Stoke
Football is a career that can often be as far from what you would call work as possible. Today will be the exception. Sometimes it's about doing the things we don't necessarily enjoy in order to get what we want. This could potentially be as physically exhausting a ninety minutes as we'll have to face all season. If there's ever a game in which we're going to have to win ugly, this one will be it.
A victory today is important for two reasons. Firstly we need to keep on the momentum gained from that fantastic performance and victory against Norwich at Carrow Road last week. Also, in the wake of last season's results, our horrible home form needs to turn around. Having gotten the majority of harder fixtures out of the way, this is a chance to start putting that right again. There's no doubting the fact that Stoke are a team that will come to Anfield ready to cause us as many problems as possible but if we want to get back up the table quickly then we need the three points.
As far as footballing philosophies go, the two managers could not be any more apart. Tony Pulis' men have trampled on the league and scoff at the notion of playing fancy football in favour of an aggressive direct approach which has seen him be roundly criticised at times. That being said, in terms of performing against ambition he has done exactly what has been asked of him at every given turn. They've been in the league long enough now to know exactly how to survive and the idea that they've not yet evolved beyond that is why most people are put off by them. We may not appreciate their style but if we underestimate them it will be at our detriment.
One factor that plays into today's game more so than any is - admittedly nothing more than superstition - but that of the returning players. Charlie Adam, Michael Owen, Peter Crouch, Jermaine Pennant. They have a list of former Liverpool players, all of whom - Crouch aside - who aren't exactly fan favourites. Charlie Adam in particular will be desperate to put his mark on the game and prove a point both to Brendan Rodgers and the fans who derided him during his time at Anfield. As typically Liverpool as it might be for Adam to have a virtuoso performance, I'm far more weary of Crouch. He's a player we could do with right now in terms of putting the ball into the net and is certain to give Agger, Skrtel and any defender that comes into his way a real test.
With Suso being rested for the game against Udinese in midweek, he's almost certain to come back into the team which - Lucas Leiva aside - is starting to bed down nicely. With he and Sterling on the flanks, it's going to be very important that the midfield area is capable of not only winning the battle with Stoke but also pushing forward. I've a horrible feeling that their cavemen like defenders will really go for either Suso or Raheem and as such we're going to need some cover up there in the shape of Gerrard, Allen or Sahin. That being said, getting into a fouling match with them would only drag us down to their level and play into their hands. We have the quality to play around Stoke and they cannot be allowed to bully us we should be aiming to play the better football rather than simply out fight them. Out fight them though we must.
Today's game is unlikely to be the greatest showcase in the history of the beautiful game but this one will be all about the result rather than the performance. An early goal would do well to settle the nerves just like against Norwich but we will almost certainly have to be patient because Stoke do not give up many chances. Since emerging from the Manchester United game the future now looks considerably brighter. Sahin has come into great form and Gerrard appears to have come to grips with what Rodgers wants of him as well as the emergence of a whole host of players from the academy ranks that look like a perfect fit into the team. Right now we're confident. A few more wins and we'll be unstoppable.
Football is a career that can often be as far from what you would call work as possible. Today will be the exception. Sometimes it's about doing the things we don't necessarily enjoy in order to get what we want. This could potentially be as physically exhausting a ninety minutes as we'll have to face all season. If there's ever a game in which we're going to have to win ugly, this one will be it.
A victory today is important for two reasons. Firstly we need to keep on the momentum gained from that fantastic performance and victory against Norwich at Carrow Road last week. Also, in the wake of last season's results, our horrible home form needs to turn around. Having gotten the majority of harder fixtures out of the way, this is a chance to start putting that right again. There's no doubting the fact that Stoke are a team that will come to Anfield ready to cause us as many problems as possible but if we want to get back up the table quickly then we need the three points.
As far as footballing philosophies go, the two managers could not be any more apart. Tony Pulis' men have trampled on the league and scoff at the notion of playing fancy football in favour of an aggressive direct approach which has seen him be roundly criticised at times. That being said, in terms of performing against ambition he has done exactly what has been asked of him at every given turn. They've been in the league long enough now to know exactly how to survive and the idea that they've not yet evolved beyond that is why most people are put off by them. We may not appreciate their style but if we underestimate them it will be at our detriment.
One factor that plays into today's game more so than any is - admittedly nothing more than superstition - but that of the returning players. Charlie Adam, Michael Owen, Peter Crouch, Jermaine Pennant. They have a list of former Liverpool players, all of whom - Crouch aside - who aren't exactly fan favourites. Charlie Adam in particular will be desperate to put his mark on the game and prove a point both to Brendan Rodgers and the fans who derided him during his time at Anfield. As typically Liverpool as it might be for Adam to have a virtuoso performance, I'm far more weary of Crouch. He's a player we could do with right now in terms of putting the ball into the net and is certain to give Agger, Skrtel and any defender that comes into his way a real test.
With Suso being rested for the game against Udinese in midweek, he's almost certain to come back into the team which - Lucas Leiva aside - is starting to bed down nicely. With he and Sterling on the flanks, it's going to be very important that the midfield area is capable of not only winning the battle with Stoke but also pushing forward. I've a horrible feeling that their cavemen like defenders will really go for either Suso or Raheem and as such we're going to need some cover up there in the shape of Gerrard, Allen or Sahin. That being said, getting into a fouling match with them would only drag us down to their level and play into their hands. We have the quality to play around Stoke and they cannot be allowed to bully us we should be aiming to play the better football rather than simply out fight them. Out fight them though we must.
Today's game is unlikely to be the greatest showcase in the history of the beautiful game but this one will be all about the result rather than the performance. An early goal would do well to settle the nerves just like against Norwich but we will almost certainly have to be patient because Stoke do not give up many chances. Since emerging from the Manchester United game the future now looks considerably brighter. Sahin has come into great form and Gerrard appears to have come to grips with what Rodgers wants of him as well as the emergence of a whole host of players from the academy ranks that look like a perfect fit into the team. Right now we're confident. A few more wins and we'll be unstoppable.
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