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The fierce rivalry that it is, all eyes were set on the weekend game between Manchester United and Liverpool, in spite of the fact that there is a wide gap in their league position.
This is one such game where form and league position can be thrown out the window. The history of the rivalry between the arch rivals is enough to heat up the game and has great significance, if not in the league table, but for the fans of the club.
The game has always had a huge build-up, with verbal wars and altercations preceding the game. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is known for his mind games and he didn’t disappoint this time around, claiming he is unaware of Liverpool’s league position and doesn’t intend to know it for a few years now.
With Liverpool’s latest signing Sturridge available and Rodgers claiming to give him a central role, drifting Suarez a little wide, there was much anticipation as to how Liverpool would line up, but to everyone’s surprise, Sturridge was asked to warm the bench, with Rodgers going in with his usual line-up, fielding Suarez in the central role, with Sterling and Downing out wide.
Ferguson too sprung a few surprises, handing Vidic and Ferdinand a first start at the heart of defence since mid September with Valenica on the bench. But the most astonishing one was the absence of Scholes from the match-day squad.
Liverpool went in with their usual 4-3-3, while United had a similar shape. Just as expected, an interesting start to the tie, without a minute being played.
Liverpool started on the defensive, with the home team getting a lion’s share of possession and going forward at will. Liverpool were probably in it with a defensive mindset and that did them in, conceding in the 19th minute; it was he, who else, who got on the score-sheet: RVP, they call him.
Every Liverpool fan would have been disappointed with the start and the goal added salt to the wounds. Liverpool seemed disinterested in getting into the game and provided United with some cheap chances on a few occasions, but fortunately for the Reds, the home side wasn’t clinical enough. Joe Allen had a torrid time in the middle, losing the ball cheap and playing naïve back-passes. It was Agger or Dagger as we call him, who saved him the embarrassment.
The game was slowly, but surely slipping away from the Merseysiders and a clear lack of initiative and defensive approach did them in.As the half time whistle blew, the Liverpool fans were breathing a sigh of relief; not only because there was time to regroup and possibility of changes to influx some momentum, but because Liverpool was only one goal down and the game was well within their reach.
The second half marked the presence of the highly anticipated January signing, Daniel Sturridge. A positive move for sure, brought some smile back. Liverpool started the half exact contrary to the first, pushing forward, showing positive commitment. Sturridge was looking impressive in his short stint, linking well with Gerrard, but there was a goal on the opposite end. United left-back, Evra doubled his side’s lead and the shoulders of the fans dropped, but Liverpool hit back quickly with a goal, courtesy Sturridge, who reacted the quickest on a De Gea save off Gerrard.
Liverpool fans in the stadium erupted chanting the famous, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and there was a red buzz all around the stadium. Liverpool now took total control of the game and the fans started believing that there is a chance of a comeback, giving the United side a dose of their own medicine. They were now building attacks after attacks and the introduction of Borini meant Liverpool were on the field with three out and out strikers, all capable of scoring.
Liverpool kept on trying and pressing hard, but it was just not to be. Liverpool fans were disappointed as our bitter rivals had successfully achieved a double over us. It was a sad moment, which left the fans singing You’ll Never Walk Alone at the top of their voices in stunned silence. Fans were expecting a moment they most hate to, but fate had this in store.
There was nothing left but for everybody to ask Rodgers a host of questions. Why didn’t Sturridge start? Why the defensive mindset? Why Lucas gave way to Sturridge and not Allen, who had a pathetic half, probably his worst in a Liverpool shirt?
Having seen the performance of Sturridge soon after coming on, this certainly goes down as the biggest cry by the Anfield faithful as to why Sturridge didn’t start?
After the second half performance, the Sousers are left to ponder as to what could have been the result had we started with a more positive mindset, with Sturridge on the pitch combining with Suarez. That’s a sweet dream Liverpool fans would be seeing for the upcoming matches and hope the Reds can turn it around.
All in all, it was a decent performance and contrary to what Rodgers said, I would say it was a fair result in many aspects, but it being the game we relish, my heart wants to agree with Rodgers that Liverpool deserved something from the game; obviously not a loss.
As the anthem goes, so do we, walk on with hope in your heart!
Hoping things turn for the good soon.
